Staff Scientist

Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Staff Scientist

Pulmonary Branch

The Division of Intramural Research (DIR) of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is seeking to recruit an outstanding Staff Scientist to join the Laboratory of Applied Precision Omics. The candidate for the position will have responsibilities to oversee specimen processing and quality in clinical studies and to perform whole genome sequencing experiments. The whole genome sequencing approaches should include digital droplet PCR, transcriptomic, DNA methylomic and other genomic approaches in bulk specimens as well as single cell approaches. 

The mission of the Laboratory of Applied Precision Omics focuses on using extracellular nucleic acids as none invasive approaches to monitor for transplant rejection. Transplantation is often the only treatment for patients with advanced organ damage. Unfortunately, several transplant recipient develop rejection. The majority of these patients fail treatment because the current methods to detect rejection lack sensitivity and only detect advanced stages. Consequently, these patients progress to develop allograft failure and early death.  APO aims to develop better diagnostic tools that would pick up rejection earlier. So, APO has set up two research labs, one at the NIH campus, and another one at Johns Hopkins Hospital to process patient samples quickly. In addition, APO has four on-going clinical studies in heart and lung transplantation, pulmonary hypertension and COVID-19.  These studies have developed a novel blood test that detects transplant rejection 2 – 3 months before current methods. In addition to developing better diagnostics, APO aims to further elucidate the mechanisms of rejection and why some patients are at greater risk of rejection. There are strong interactions with a wide range of independent research groups, and the position offers exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration within and outside of the NIH.

The existing faculty in the NHLBI DIR is an outstanding group of internationally recognized biomedical researchers covering a wide range of basic and clinical research topics (please see https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/about/divisions/division-intramural-research) complemented by the other research institutes within the DIR (please see https://www.nih.gov/research-training#campus)

The successful candidate should have a strong track record of achievement, expertise and experience in a research areas of interest to APO. Applicants must have a Ph.D. or equivalent, have completed formal mentored postdoctoral training in related research areas, experience with training responsibilities, and evidence of scientific research productivity sufficient to carry out the duties and responsibilities. The ideal candidate should have experience managing samples quality or running experimental measurements in large clinical studies, overseeing a large biorepository and developing genomic approaches. Salary is commensurate with research experience and accomplishments.

Appointees may be US citizens, resident aliens, or non-resident aliens with or eligible to obtain a valid employment authorized visa.

Applications from women, minorities and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged. Applicants should send a 1-2 page descriptive letter of interest and research proposal, curriculum vitae and complete bibliography, and arrange for three letters of reference to be sent to:

Meron Ghebre

meron.ghebre@nih.gov

3 Center Drive

Room 3W12A 

Bethesda, MD 20892

The review of applications will begin on or around November 30^th, 2020. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.