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PREP Research Associate

This position is part of the National Institute of Standards (NIST) Professional Research Experience (PREP) program. NIST recognizes that its research staff may wish to collaborate with researchers at academic institutions on specific projects of mutual interest, thus requires that such institutions must be the recipient of a PREP award. The PREP program requires staff from a wide range of backgrounds to work on scientific research in many areas. Employees in this position will perform technical work that underpins the scientific research of the collaboration.

Research Title:

Development of High-Sensitivity IR Spectroscopy for Proteins and Gene Delivery Systems

The work will entail:

Label-free characterization of hydrated, low concentration biological samples is critical to support regenerative medicine applications such as cell and gene therapies. NIST has developed a high-sensitivity infrared (IR) spectroscopy technique and demonstrated it for protein solutions. This technique will enable the characterization of a protein solution with a high sensitivity with a frequency range from 970 cm-1 to 1840 cm-1. This project will focus on advancing applicability of the spectroscopy technique by improving its concentration sensitivity and applying it to characterize gene delivery systems and other biological molecules.

Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Develop the instrumentation and analysis protocol for high-sensitivity IR spectroscopy.

• Analyze IR spectra of proteins and gene delivery systems.

• Discuss with NIST staff on the progress and the results.

§ Present results at internal meetings, and occasional meetings with external stakeholders.

§ Write papers based on the results of method development and produced data.

§ A Ph.D. degree in Chemistry, Physics, Pharmaceutical Science, Manufacturing, or a related field.

§ Familiarity with IR spectroscopy and analytical chemistry is preferred.

§ Familiarity with gene delivery is also desired.

§ Ability to analyze chemical and spectral data.

§ Strong oral and written communication skills.

Please upload the following (preferably in a single PDF) with your application:

• Cover Letter

• CV/Resume

Privacy Act Statement

Authority: 15 U.S.C. § 278g-1(e)(1) and (e)(3) and 15 U.S.C. § 272(b) and (c)

Purpose: The National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) hosts the Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) (https://www.nist.gov/iaao/academic-affairs-office/nist-professional-research-experience-program-prep) which is designed to provide valuable laboratory experience and financial assistance to undergraduates, post-bachelor's degree holders, graduate students, master's degree holders, postdocs, and faculty.

PREP is a 5-year cooperative agreement between NIST laboratories and participating PREP Universities to establish a collaborative research relationship between NIST and U.S. institutions of higher education in the following disciplines including (but may not be limited to) biochemistry, biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, engineering, electronics, materials science, mathematics, nanoscale science, neutron science, physical science, physics, and statistics. This collection of information is needed to facilitate administrative functions of the PREP Program.

Routine Uses: NIST will use the information collected to perform the requisite reviews of the applications to determine eligibility, and to meet programmatic requirements. Disclosure of this information is also subject to all the published routine uses as identified in the Privacy Act System of Records Notices: NIST-1: NIST Associates.

Disclosure: Furnishing this information is voluntary. When you submit the form, you are indicating your voluntary consent for NIST to use of the information you submit for the purpose stated.

Job Type: Full Time Johns Hopkins University is committed to active recruitment of a diverse faculty and student body. The University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer of women, minorities, protected veterans and individuals with disabilities and encourages applications from these and other protected group members. Consistent with the University’s goals of achieving excellence in all areas, we will assess the comprehensive qualifications of each applicant.