Job Details - In Vitro Pharmacologist - 36918638 | Frederick National Laboratory Talent Network
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In Vitro Pharmacologist in Frederick, MD

Location: Frederick, MD
Career Level: Entry Level
Industries: Healthcare, Pharmaceutical, Biotech

Description

In Vitro Pharmacologist

Job ID: req1600
Employee Type: exempt full-time
Facility: Frederick: Ft Detrick
Location: PO Box B, Frederick, MD 21702 USA

The Frederick National Laboratory is a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and operated by Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc.  The lab addresses some of the most urgent and intractable problems in the biomedical sciences in cancer and AIDS, drug development and first-in-human clinical trials, applications of nanotechnology in medicine, and rapid response to emerging threats of infectious diseases.

Our core values of accountability, compassion, collaboration, dedication, integrity, and versatility serve as a guidepost for how we do our work every day in serving the public's interest.  

 Position Overview:

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research (FNLCR) is a Federally Funded Research and Development Center sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and operated by Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc. With more than 2,000 employees, the FNLCR is responsible for pursuing translational and applied biomedical research that is unique from academia, the pharmaceutical industry, or other federal contractors. The selected candidate will join the Pharmacodynamic Assay Development & Implementation Section (PADIS) of the Clinical Pharmacodynamics Program, located at the NCI-Frederick campus, which conducts applied R&D into approaches to quantify cancer drug action on molecular targets in clinical specimens and their laboratory models using state-of-the-art approaches. 

The successful candidate will focus on development of pharmacodynamic biomarker assays to detect and measure drug mechanism of action and biochemical pharmacology in 3-dimensional in vitro models of cancer from human and canine patients, including use of advanced in vitro technologies to create high fidelity models of clinical cancer tissue.  Studies will emphasize technologies and methodologies that are suitable for transfer into high content/high throughput screening assays for mechanisms of action. The individual will serve to connect the PADIS group with the Molecular Pharmacology Laboratory and will perform important exploratory and feasibility studies to identify fit-for-purpose approaches that are suitable for high throughput screening by that Laboratory.  This work will complement the ongoing efforts within the MPL and Clinical Pharmacodynamics Program to assess activities of approved cancer drugs and investigational agents, alone and in combination, using mechanistic endpoints based on biochemical pharmacology rather than non-specific endpoints like cell death and loss of ATP. Success in this role will require outstanding technical skills at the bench, a keen interest in and desire to conduct hands-on laboratory experimentation, and the experience and organization to perform multiple experiments at the same time to achieve a brisk research pace. This work supports the NCI Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis (DCTD) and its scientific mission. 

KEY ROLES/RESPONSIBILITIES

  •  Work with laboratory staff and management of the PADIS to evaluate the drug sensitivities of spheroids, organoids, and other 3D culture models of various clinical histologies of human cancer and canine cancer using high content imaging, high-throughput biochemical measurements, and other assays to detect mechanism of action and quantify molecular effects of drugs and investigational agents, alone and in combinations, and to establish new approaches suitable for high throughput, mechanistic screening
  •  Coordinate with members of the Target Validation and Screening Laboratory, Organoid Models Laboratory, Translational Support Laboratory of the MPL to evaluate fitness-for-purpose of emerging histotypic 3D culture technologies suitable for high throughout/high content imaging and other assays of mechanism of action and molecular effects of drugs and investigational agents, alone and in combinations
  •  Lead the development and transfer of new assays and endpoints for in vitro screening assays of potential therapeutic combinations
  •  Play a key role in evaluating mechanistic hypotheses for drug and investigational agent responses in the context of targeted clinical trials using cancer cell lines, Patient Derived Xenograft (PDX) lines, spheroids, organoids, and other 3D culture models
  •  Provide imaging and data analysis training and support for members of the MPL when a new approach is proven suitable for use in high throughput/high content screening
  •  Prepare, review and publish scientific articles and reviews
  •  Present data at national and international meetings and conferences, as well as internal NCI meetings
  •  Maintain a current understanding of technical and scientific advancements in the field and apply this knowledge to advance the project and the DCTD mission 

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

  •  Possession of a doctoral degree (e.g., D.V.M., D.Sc., M.D., or Ph.D.) from an accredited college or university according to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Foreign degrees will be evaluated for U.S. equivalency
  •  In addition to education requirements, a minimum of two (2) years of independent and innovative research in the field of cell biology, genetics, biochemistry, chemistry, enzymology, pharmacology, drug discovery or a similar discipline
  •  Must have practical laboratory experience with patient derived organoids, other 3D culture model systems, histotypic or organotypic in vitro modeling
  •  Experience and expertise in applying high-resolution imaging and microscopy methodologies and/or other means of assessing biomarker responses in patient-derived organoids, tumor spheroids, and other 3D culture models
  • Experience with data processing and data analysis along with expertise in interrogating, interpreting, and summarizing large volumes of data by appropriate statistical analytical procedures and reporting practices to provide scientific insight
  •  Must have demonstrated in the past and be willing to continue to demonstrate outstanding technical skills at the bench with cell culture and tissue modeling, a keen interest in and desire to conduct hands-on laboratory experimentation, and the experience and organization to perform multiple experiments at the same time
  •  Must be an excellent team player and forward-thinking with exceptional problem-solving skills
  •  Must possess the highest integrity and standards for research rigor and reproducibility
  •  Excellent written and verbal communication, troubleshooting, and organizational skills
  •  Must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  •  Expertise in high content imaging, preferably confocal image acquisition and analysis
  •  An individual at this level normally has made contributions by independently producing research work, authoring and/or co-authoring publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals, and by presenting papers before professional societies

JOB HAZARDS

  • This position is subject to working with or have potential for exposure to animal(s) and/or animal material(s)
  • This position is subject to working with or have potential for exposure to infectious material, requiring medical clearance and immunizations

 

Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) | Minority/Female/Disabled/Veteran (M/F/D/V) | Drug Free Workplace (DFW)

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