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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 Cell Count and Cell Viability Reference Materials for Cell Therapy Applications

The work will entail:

Cell count and cell viability are fundamental measurements for biotechnology and critical in the release of cellular therapeutic products. There is a need for accurate cell count based measurements, which will require the development of appropriate reference methods and reference materials. In this project, we will develop cell count/viability reference materials that are fit-for-purpose, stable, and homogeneous. Automated liquid handling and sample preparation systems will be used to generate cell samples at varying dilutions following ISO cell counting standards. Advanced cell analysis techniques will be used to enumerate cells using different counting modalities including flow cytometry, digital PCR, fluorescent imaging, brightfield imaging, and coulter principles. Cell preservation techniques including lyophilization, fixation, and cryopreservation will be evaluated for their ability to generate stable cell-based reference materials. This project is directly applicable to the development and characterization of cell-based therapies and will advance measurement capabilities critical for the success of these novel therapeutics.

Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Conducting mammalian cell culture

• Designing and conducting cell characterization assays

§ Conducting data analysis including statistical analysis

§ Ensuring that protocols and results are well documented

§ Preparing manuscripts for dissemination of research results

§ Presentation at meetings and conferences

§ Collaboration with stakeholders

§ A Ph.D. degree in biomedical engineering, molecular biology, biochemistry or a related field

§ 2 years of relevant experience (could include graduate school research)

§ 1 year specialized experience in cell assays (e.g. viability, count, proliferation)

§ Familiarity with molecular methods for cell characterization

§ Familiarity with the following techniques: flow cytometry, genomic measurements, microscopy, cell therapy manufacturing, design of experiments; cryopreservation

§ Ability to work with advanced cell analysis instrumentation

§ Familiarity with statistical analysis

§ Familiarity with laboratory automation systems

§ Ability to develop protocols for cell analysis

§ 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.