What are the responsibilities and job description for the Staff Scientist II (Variant Interpretation Specialist) position at Children's National Medical Center?
The Staff Scientist II position is an intermediate scientific clinical research position requiring a PhD and reporting to a principal investigator or CNRI center director. In this position, the staff scientist can serve in several laboratory roles depending on their scientific specialty and the needs of the research project they are supporting. The Staff Scientist II performs a variety of laboratory tests, education and management tasks, including training technical staff, students, fellows and physicians in laboratory procedures and assisting the principal investigator in planning and executing laboratory projects, grant applications and publications. (strong variant interpretation/classification skills and NGS analysis in a clinical lab is required. Proficiency in bioinformatics tools and clinical reporting platforms is preferred)
Minimum Education
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) (Required) Or
Medical Doctor (M.D.) (Required) Or
Master's Degree M.S. degree with 10 years of progressive specialized experience in a field of research required for M.S. (Required)
Minimum Work Experience
5 years Five to seven years of progressive specialized experience in a field of research required for Ph.D. or M.D.; ten years of progressive specialized experience in a field of research required for M.S. (Required)
Required Skills/Knowledge
Experience must demonstrate that the applicant has acquired the scientific knowledge, skills and abilities to apply and utilize successfully in independent health or health-related research appropriate to the position.
Technical and scientific knowledge encompassing several disciplines, such as molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry, genetics, physiology or animal science.
Functional Accountabilities
Responsible Conduct of Research
- Consistently demonstrates adherence to the standards for the responsible conduct of research.
- Plans, conducts and manages research projects within federal and institutional regulations and policies under the direction of the principal investigator.
- Uses research funds and resources appropriately.
- Maintains confidentiality of data as required.
- Meets all annual job-related training and compliance requirements.
Research
- Uses accepted methods and techniques, solves well-defined problems and performs specific and limited portions of broader projects under the technical guidance of the principal investigator.
- Conducts research of significant scientific value in the basic and/or translational science area(s) relevant to his/her practice specialty.
- Conducts experiments/tests in the laboratory/field that include taking measurements and recording observations, collecting, compiling and processing data.
Leadership and Collaboration
- Assists in the management of resource allocations, and may manage day-to-day activities in the laboratory, such as purchasing, oversight of laboratory animals, radioactivity and biosafety issues.
- Assists the principal investigator in planning and executing research projects and in developing publications for peer-reviewed, scientific, quality and management journals.
- Collaborates with other team members to accomplish organizational goals and may provide ideas to improve proficiency at the group level; networks primarily within own technical peer group.
- Participates in the procurement of additional/new funding through contributions to technical proposal preparation and/or presentations.
- Supervises and monitors the work of junior staff to ensure that correct procedures are followed; provides direction to ensure completion of technical tasks and projects.
- Mentors junior staff in the development of technical skills.
- Anticipate and responds to customer needs; follows up until needs are met
Teamwork/Communication
- Demonstrate collaborative and respectful behavior
- Partner with all team members to achieve goals
- Receptive to others' ideas and opinions
Performance Improvement/Problem-solving
- Contribute to a positive work environment
- Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to change
- Identify opportunities to improve clinical and administrative processes
- Make appropriate decisions, using sound judgment
Cost Management/Financial Responsibility
- Use resources efficiently
- Search for less costly ways of doing things
Safety
- Speak up when team members appear to exhibit unsafe behavior or performance
- Continuously validate and verify information needed for decision making or documentation
- Stop in the face of uncertainty and takes time to resolve the situation
- Demonstrate accurate, clear and timely verbal and written communication
- Actively promote safety for patients, families, visitors and co-workers
- Attend carefully to important details - practicing Stop, Think, Act and Review in order to self-check behavior and performance
