Post Doctoral Fellow

The Clinical PD Biomarkers Program is responsible for identification of biomarkers of response to new targeted agents entering clinical trials in the Developmental Therapeutics Program of the National Cancer Institute. The scope of work includes assay design, development, validation, fitness for purpose testing, transfer of assays to clinical laboratories, and clinical specimen analysis when required. The program facilitates mechanistic and performance analysis of putative anti-cancer agents, diagnostic tests, and therapeutic interventions to clinical applications, including distinct molecular signatures for cancer, refined molecular assays, and state-of-the-art imaging techniques that are too high-risk for industry or academia to pursue.

KEY ROLES/RESPONSIBILITIES

The postdoctoral fellow responsibilities include:

• Assisting in the development, validation, and application of quantitative multiplex immunoassays of non-apoptotic cell death mechanisms on the Luminex platform to be used in assessing patient response to new anti-cancer agents
• Designing ex vivo and in vivo experiments to test immunoassay reagents and efficacy of assays
• Designing antigens for generation of antibodies
• Writing statements of work for sub-contracted work
• Monitoring development of monoclonal antibodies
• Producing and characterizing recombinant proteins and/or peptides as calibrators
• Developing and validating multiplex immunoassays of pharmacodynamic biomarkers on Luminex platform
• Ensuring adequate specificity and analytical characteristics of reagents
• Providing timely progress reports to Principal Scientist and preparing/performing presentations for management review
• Writing abstracts/manuscripts for presentations in meetings and publication

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Possession of a Doctorate degree in biomedical research, biochemistry, chemistry, or engineering from an accredited college or university according to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Foreign degrees will be evaluated for U.S. equivalency
• No Experience required beyond the Doctorate degree
• Proficient in Microsoft office software, electronic data keeping and management, and basic knowledge of statistics applied in data reduction and analysis
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Research performed in the area of understanding mechanisms of apoptotic and non-apoptotic cell death pathways
• Experience in molecular biology techniques, protein/antibody characterization, and in vitro testing of inhibitors of apoptosis
• Knowledge of statistics applied in data reduction and analysis

Expected Competencies:

• Knowledge about apoptosis and non-apoptotic cell death pathways
• Knowledge of techniques used in development of antibodies and recombinant proteins
• Knowledge of quality control/good laboratory practice standards

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