Postbaccalaureate Fellow, Neural Spheroid Team, 3-D Tissue Bioprinting Laboratory, Early Translation Branch, Division of Preclinical Innovation
Description
NCATS, a major research component of NIH, seeks applications from outstanding candidates to fill a postbaccalaureate fellow position. The position is on the Neural Spheroid Team in the 3-D Tissue Bioprinting Laboratory (TBL), located in the Early Translation Branch (ETB) of the center’s Division of Preclinical Innovation.
The selected candidate will work on high-impact early drug discovery projects involving neural spheroids. They will work on a team under the co-mentorship of 3-D TBL director and ETB acting director Marc Ferrer, Ph.D., and staff scientist and functional group lead Emily M. Lee, Ph.D.
Approximately 90% of potential new drugs fail in clinical trials because they are ineffective or cause unexpected toxic effects. This failure mainly happens because the cell-based laboratory tests, called in vitro assays, and animal models used during the drug discovery and development process are too simple and do not correctly predict what will happen when the drug is given to humans. Therefore, the need to develop in vitro assays that can better predict the effectiveness and toxicity of potential drugs in humans is vital. To address this need, we are using organotypic model techniques of for drug discovery and development. Through the process of preparing complex in vitro models, researchers are building tissue models that mimic the 3-D structure and organization of cells in the tissues of living organisms in microplate format for screening. The 3-D TBL uses novel approaches to understanding a range of human diseases, including making human neural spheroids and using them as predictive models to mimic brain tissue and provide key insights into neurological processes and drug discovery.
Core Responsibilities
The selected candidate will:
- Develop and maintain neural spheroid cultures differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells of different genetic backgrounds.
- Work closely with postdoctoral fellows and staff scientists to screen compound libraries in the context of neural spheroid models for toxicity and anti-disease activity.
- Work with team members to ensure research projects progress smoothly.
- Perform immunostaining, imaging and quantitative analysis of spheroid samples.
- Help design experiments and optimize protocols.
- Analyze data and help prepare manuscripts and presentations.
- Present research findings during internal meetings and at external scientific conferences.
- Contribute to peer-reviewed publications.
Qualifications
Applicants should possess:
- A bachelor’s degree in neuroscience, cell biology, biomedical science or a related field
- Strong interest in neurological diseases and early drug discovery
- Experience with cell culture techniques (highly desirable but not required)
- Experience with R or Python (highly desirable but not required)
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
Salary/Benefits
Annual stipends are commensurate with experience and based on the NIH Predoctoral Intramural Research Training Award and Visiting Fellow scale; medical insurance coverage will be provided. The fellow also may participate in Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences courses at NIH. The position is renewable for up to two years.
How to Apply
Please send your resume, a cover letter outlining your research interests and career goals, and contact information for two references to Emily M. Lee, Ph.D. and Marc Ferrer, Ph.D.. In your cover letter, please describe your previous research experience and explain why you are particularly interested in working with neural spheroids.
Join us and be a part of groundbreaking research that could shape the future of drug discovery!
Application reviews will begin promptly and continue until the position is filled.
Additional Information
A preappointment process (e.g., background investigation, verification of qualifications and job requirements, completion of onboarding forms, submission of required documents) may determine employment after an offer has been made and accepted.
At your supervisor’s discretion, you may be eligible for workplace flexibilities, which may include remote work or telework options and/or flexible work scheduling. These flexibilities may be requested in accordance with the NIH Workplace Flexibilities policy.