What are the responsibilities and job description for the Associate Scientist - Cellular Model position at thejacksonlaboratory?
The Associate Scientist will serve as the platform lead for functional cellular assays and high-content screening projects at the Single Cell Biology Laboratory (SCBL) within The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, ensuring the timely delivery of high-quality, robust data. The SCBL is a core facility supporting the scientific research community with cutting-edge single-cell technologies, including dissociative single-cell omics, spatial omics, and high-content screening. This role is central to the lab’s functional biology and screening capabilities, requiring deep expertise in advanced cell culture systems, strong project coordination, and effective communication with scientific stakeholders. The ideal candidate will be the technical expert for functional cellular workflows, from experimental design and culture optimization to assay execution, data quality control, and workflow development. You will leverage your strong background in cell biology and advanced culture systems to support and expand capabilities in 2D and 3D cell culture, organoids, co-culture assays, and iPSC-based models. Experience with live-cell imaging, high-content or high-throughput screening, and laboratory automation or liquid handling systems is strongly preferred. In this role, you will work closely with internal and external investigators to design and execute complex experiments, maintain high-quality standards across projects, and contribute to the development of innovative functional assays within the SCBL. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required: Required Education: PhD in Biology, Molecular Biology, or a related scientific field. Experience: 2-4 years of experience in a core facility, industry setting or min of 4 years in research lab. Molecular & RNA Biology: Deep and comprehensive understanding of RNA and molecular biology principles, including associated assays. Cellular Models Experience: 2D and 3D mammalian cell culture expertise, iPSCs/progenitor cell differentiation and extended characterization, primary cell line derivation (2D and organoids) HCS/HTS: First hand experience on high throughput (96-, 384- or 1536-well plate format) cell assays for drug screens, differentiation and perturbations assays, live imaging and biochemical analysis (IC50, GR50,…) Liquid Handling and Automation: familiar with liquid handling and automation instruments used for HCS/HTS screens Sample Handling: Direct experience with tissue processing, sectioning, handling, and profiling using immunohistochemistry (IHC) techniques. Documentation: Experience in writing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and familiarity with Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) and Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELN). Operational Skills: Proven project and lab management experience, including managing stock, inventory, and instrument uptime. Soft Skills: Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills; proven ability to thrive as a team player within interdisciplinary groups. Preferred: Education: Ph.D. preferred Technical Breadth: Comprehensive knowledge of various spatial genomics technologies (e.g., Xenium, Visium, MERFISH, seqFISH). Single-Cell Experience: Hands-on experience with single-cell technologies (e.g., 10x Chromium, smart-seq, split-and-pool methods). Imaging-Based Spatial Genomics Expertise: Hands-on experience with FISH-based platforms, including 10x Genomics Xenium, MERFISH, and seqFISH. Biopharma Industry Experience: Preferred experience working in an industrial setting, such as the biotechnology or pharmaceutical sector, demonstrating familiarity with industry-standard workflows and requirements. Histology Expertise: Experience in histopathology and tissue/mircotissue processing. Development: Proven track record in technology development or assay optimization. Pay Range: $69,711 - $90,624, salary determined by experience About JAX: The Jackson Laboratory is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institution with a National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center and nearly 3,000 employees in locations across the United States (Maine, Connecticut, California), Japan and China. Its mission is to discover precise genomic solutions for disease and empower the global biomedical community in the shared quest to improve human health. Founded in 1929, JAX applies over nine decades of expertise in genetics to increase understanding of human disease, advancing treatments and cures for cancer, neurological and immune disorders, diabetes, aging and heart disease. It models and interprets genomic complexity, integrates basic research with clinical application, educates current and future scientists, and provides critical data, tools and services to the global biomedical community. For more information, please visit www.jax.org. EEO Statement: The Jackson Laboratory provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, age, mental disability, physical disability, medical condition, gender, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, marital status, national origin, veteran status, and other classifications protected by applicable state and local non-discrimination laws. Bar Harbor: The Jackson Laboratory's 43-acre scenic Bar Harbor campus is nestled between the Gulf of Maine and the mountains of Acadia National Park. Some of the best hiking and biking in the world (over 50 square miles of mountains, lakes, views, and dramatic coastline) is accessible from our campus. We are one mile from downtown Bar Harbor, which offers a vibrant downtown district with a plethora of restaurants, shops, museums, and galleries. Ellsworth: The Charles E. Hewett Center in Ellsworth, Maine, is a state-of-the-art facility that serves researchers world wide. The facility represents the culmination of nine decades of unmatched experience and leadership in breeding and caring for laboratory mice. Ellsworth, Maine, is one of Maine’s fastest growing cities. With a growth rate of nearly 20%, Ellsworth is a bustling year-round community and acts as a hub for surrounding towns. It is located nearby Acadia National Park and hosts numerous special events, concerts and festivals each year. Residents have access to fabulous shopping, recreation, museums, galleries, and dining at a variety of independent restaurants. Farmington: JAX Genomic Medicine is transforming medicine by improving patient care, lowering costs, and increasing life span and health span. JAX Genomic Medicine’s research focuses on the complex genetic causes of disease and on the development of genomic solutions tailored to each person's unique genetic makeup. JAX Genomic Medicine sits on a 17-acre site on the campus of the University of Connecticut Health Center. The 183,500-square-foot facility opened in the fall of 2014. Now, it houses over 300 biomedical researchers, technicians, and support staff in state-of-the-art computing facilities and laboratories. In Connecticut, JAX resides in the scenic town of Farmington, in the state’s capitol region. The Hartford region, which offers some of the best public schools in the country, is made up of both bigger cities and smaller, charming historic New England towns. JAX Genomic Medicine is also geographically located within 2 hours of Boston and New York and is close to multiple transportation systems, including bus lines, highways, railroads and international airports. Sacramento: The JAX® Mice, Clinical and Research Services facility is located in Sacramento, the state capital of California. Sacramento is less than a two-hour drive from San Francisco, Napa Valley, and scenic Lake Tahoe, and a short flight to both Los Angeles and Orange County. Sacramento is the birthplace of the nation’s Farm to Fork movement, and offers excellent restaurants, gastro-pubs, wineries, theaters, and museums. Outdoor activities are plentiful: Boating, white water rafting, and riding the scenic bicycle trails are popular. Housing and other costs of living are more affordable in Sacramento and its surrounding suburbs than in most other neighboring areas in the North Bay, making Sacramento one of the hottest housing markets in the country year after year. Augusta: JAX’s Maine Cancer Genomics Initiative (MCGI) is located in Augusta, Maine, in the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care (HACCC), at Maine General Hospital. It began operations in 2016 with three overarching goals: to provide cancer genomic testing for Maine cancer patients; to develop and deliver physician education about clinical genomic cancer diagnostics; and to build a network in Maine of oncology practices conducting studies in genomic medicine.
Salary : $69,711 - $90,624