Animal Biologist

Overview

Axle Informatics is a bioscience and information technology company that offers advancements in translational research, biomedical informatics, and data science applications to research centers and healthcare organizations nationally and abroad. With experts in biomedical science, software engineering, and program management, we focus on developing and applying research tools and techniques to empower decision-making and accelerate research discoveries. We work with some of the top research organizations and facilities in the country including multiple institutes at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Axle is seeking a highly ambitious, adaptable, structured, and detail-oriented Animal Biologist to join our vibrant team at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) supporting the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) located in Bethesda, MD.

Overall Position Summary and Objectives Provide support services to satisfy the overall operational objectives of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communications Disorders. The primary objective is to provide services and deliverables through performance of support services.

Deliverables:

• Work products and documents related to performing and overseeing all essential functions required for the management of the laboratory; lead a research project and provide experimental support to collaborative projects; provide orientation and training to new staff. - Ad-Hoc
• Work products and documents related to literature reviews; maintain laboratory records and records of all experiments; collect, organize and record experimental data; organize and maintain laboratory inventory and submit requests for supplies; report expenditures. - Ad-Hoc
• Work products and documents related to overseeing and maintaining rodent colony, including animal protocol renewal, in vivo animal experiments, mouse breeding and genotyping; perform microdissections of inner ear tissue from rodents; troubleshooting and optimizing sample preparation and immunofluorescence protocols. - Ad-Hoc
• Work products and documents related to maintaining records of all experiments in laboratory notebook; maintain stocks of available cell lines in liquid nitrogen and update inventory; maintain and catalog recombinant DNA stocks and antibodies. - Ad-Hoc
• Work products and documents related to performing molecular biology techniques, sequence data analyses and gene bank data search. - Ad-Hoc
• Work products and documents related to performing protein assays, gel electrophoresis, western blotting, tissue culture, cell transfections and immunofluorescence; perform micro-dissection of inner ear tissues for culture and immunocytochemical procedures. - Ad-Hoc

Work Details:

• Studies the basic principles of animal life and the effects of varying environmental factors.
• Perform and oversee all essential functions required for the management of the laboratory. 1
• Conducts research and performs experiments on the selection and breeding of animals.
• Work with staff on general laboratory maintenance, including clean water baths, organize and maintain stocks of reagents, check incubator temperature and CO2 levels, and maintain equipment and supplies. 2
• Maintains animal colonies.
• Handle, dissect and euthanize mice. Perform microdissections of inner ear tissue from rodents; prepare samples for cryo-sectioning and immunohistochemistry 4
• Oversee and maintain rodent colony with ~40 mouse lines, including animal protocol renewal, in vivo animal experiments, mouse breeding and genotyping. 3
• Performs simple surgeries on animals.
• Handle, dissect and euthanize animals.
• Prepares and analyzes animal tissues.
• Perform protein assays, gel electrophoresis and western blotting, tissue culture, cell transfections and immunofluorescence. Trouble-shoot and optimize immunofluorescence protocols. 5
• Characterize new antibodies by immunocytochemistry, Western blotting and immunoflu- orescence of organ of Corti tissues.
• Performs molecular biology techniques.
• Perform molecular biology techniques, including DNA sub-cloning, PCR, and yeast two-hybrid screen, sequence data analyses and gene bank data search.
• Performs immunohistochemistry on animal tissues.
• Maintain stocks of available cancer cell lines in liquid nitrogen and culture human and mouse cell lines for in vitro experiments.
• Analyzes experimental data.
• Collect, organize and record experimental data for publication and future reference by others.
• Maintain a detailed and orderly record of all experiments in laboratory notebook, including planning, execution, outcome and evaluation of experiments performed.
• Edits and writes research papers and protocols.
• Locate and review the literature pertinent to projects to identify the most applicable protocols and methods; perform experiments in accordance with protocols.
• Prepare analyses and reports for publication and presentation and participate in laboratory, NIH, regional and national meetings.
• Selects, devises, plans, and executes the most appropriate experiments for analysis and interpretation of data, for developing strategies, for pursuing significant observances, and for ensuring accuracy of data.
• Maintain a detailed and orderly record of all experiments in laboratory notebook, including planning, execution, outcome and evaluation of experiments performed
• Work with staff to conduct research, including planning and conducting experiments and data analysis.
• Lead a research project and provide experimental support to collaborative projects
• Provide orientation and training to new staff.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 represents priority rankings, where 1 is highest priority and 5 is lowest priority of those ranked

Minimum Education

Bachelor's

Additional Qualifications:

Certifications & Licenses

• Minimum of seven (7) years of related experience.
• Bachelors degree in Biology, Life Sciences or a related discipline.

Field of Study

• Biology

Software

• MS Office Suite
• Outlook
• Word
• Powerpoint

Skills

• Strong communications skills, both oral and written.
• Excellent analytical, organizational and time management skills.
• Experience with mammalian cell culture techniques.
• Experience with mouse colony management, genotyping and morphological characterization of transgenic and mutant mouse colonies.

Benefits

• 100% Medical Dental & Vision Coverage for Employees
• Educational Benefits for Career Growth
• Paid Time Off (Including Holidays)
• Employee Referral Bonus
• Profit Sharing
• 401K Matching
• Flexible Spending Accounts:
  • Healthcare (FSA)
  • Parking Reimbursement Account (PRK)
  • Dependent Care Assistant Program (DCAP)
  • Transportation Reimbursement Account (TRN)

The diversity of Axles employees is a tremendous asset. We are firmly committed to providing equal opportunity in all aspects of employment and will not tolerate any illegal discrimination or harassment based on age, race, gender, religion, national origin, disability, marital status, covered veteran status, sexual orientation, status with respect to public assistance, and other characteristics protected under state, federal, or local law and to deter those who aid, abet, or induce discrimination or coerce others to discriminate.

Accessibility: If you need an accommodation as part of the employment process please contact: careers@axleinfo.com

Disclaimer: The above description is meant to illustrate the general nature of work and level of effort being performed by individuals assigned to this position or job description. This is not restricted as a complete list of all skills, responsibilities, duties, and/or assignments required. Individuals may be required to perform duties outside of their position, job description or responsibilities as needed.