Postdoctoral Antibody Discovery and Characterization Position, Division of Preclinical Innovation, Early Translation Branch
Description
NCATS, a major research component of NIH, seeks applications from exceptional candidates to hold a postdoctoral position in antibody discovery and characterization in the Early Translation Branch (ETB) of its Division of Preclinical Innovation. Part of the ETB’s mission is to develop new therapeutic approaches in areas of medical need. The branch partners with external collaborators who specialize in specific disorders, creating a multidisciplinary team of innovative scientists with expertise in assay development, high-throughput and high-content screening, automation engineering, bioinformatics and various -omics technologies.
The selected postdoctoral fellow will work under the mentorship of a biology team leader in an interactive laboratory environment and be exposed to cutting-edge high-throughput screening, assay biology, bioinformatics, medicinal chemistry and disease-relevant biological models. They will implement antibody discovery technologies (including phage display), directed evolution, and related technologies to produce and characterize antibodies relevant to diseases and conditions related to pain, addiction and overdose, and other public health emergencies, such as the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The selected applicant will apply cutting-edge cell biology and bioassay technologies for the development of disease-relevant antibody selection and screening assays and will be involved in all aspects of the implementation, including assay design, assay development and optimization, antibody screening, protein engineering, data analysis and mechanism-of-action studies.
Core Responsibilities
The selected candidate should be able to work independently under team supervision. The selected applicant will keep accurate and complete records of all scientific experiments according to established procedures and ensure that these records and raw data are properly retained. They will draft technical reports and manuscripts and will present work internally and to external collaborators as needed.
Qualifications
Applicants should have (or expect to receive) a Ph.D. and have less than three years of postdoctoral experience in cell biology, molecular biology, pharmacology or a related discipline. Experience with antibody phage display technologies — including panning, ELISA, and protein purification — and an understanding of antibody domain architecture are highly desirable. The candidate should be an independent thinker, a team player, and able to work in a very interactive, fast-paced environment. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States for any employer.
Salary/Benefits
Annual stipends are commensurate with experience and based on the NIH Postdoctoral 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 5 years.
How to Apply
Please submit, in PDF format, a cover letter that includes a research summary and describes your interest in the position, a current curriculum vitae with a complete bibliography, and provide contact information for three references to NCATSantibody_hiring@nih.gov. Selected applicants will be required to submit letters of reference to complete the hiring process.
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.