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Postdoctoral Researcher, Open Datasets Initiative

Position Title: Postdoctoral Researcher, Guest Researcher

Location: Living Measurement Systems Foundry, Cellular Engineering Group,

National Institute of Standards and Technology - Gaithersburg, MD (Washington DC Metro area) 

Job Type: Full-Time, Fixed-Term (1 year with the possibility of extension)

The Living Measurement Systems Foundry at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) works on large, data-intensive projects, and are seeking team members who are excited to build out this concept with us. We are collaborating with Align to Innovate, a nonprofit organization on a mission to kickstart the use of programmable experiments to improve reproducibility and big data collection in life science research. 

Role overview

NIST and Align to Innovate are seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher to support our ongoing protein engineering collaboration. The candidate will contribute to cutting-edge research projects aimed at collecting massive protein fitness measurements in service of developing a new generation of predictive models linking sequence to function. You will be an employee of Align to Innovate and embedded in Dr. Ross’s research group at NIST, leveraging his expertise in large-scale measurements of genotype-phenotype landscapes and machine-learning approaches to make use of the data generated by those measurements.

The successful applicant will work in a collaborative environment, engaging with interdisciplinary teams, presenting findings, and publishing high-impact papers. This position offers an excellent opportunity to develop advanced technical skills, broaden scientific expertise, and build a strong professional network.

Responsibilities

  • Conduct innovative research in developing large-scale measurements of protein sequence-function relationships.
  • Design and execute experiments, analyze data, and interpret results.
  • Develop and optimize methodologies for growth-coupled assays for protein abundance in E. coli
  • Evaluate and conduct proof-of-concept experiments for growth-coupled assays in the industrially-relevant host Pichia pastoris
  • Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams.
  • Write and publish manuscripts for peer-reviewed and open-science mediums.
  • Present findings at conferences and institutional meetings.

Qualifications

Note that this section describes a nearly ideal candidate in order to provide insight into what this job entails. The more of these that apply to you, the more likely we think you will be a good fit for the role. Please don’t hesitate to apply even if you don’t feel like you’re a perfect match! 

  • PhD in Biology, Protein Engineering, Biological Engineering, or a related field.
  • Experience with lab automation (liquid handlers, robotic workcells)
  • Experience working with E. coli and P. pastoris
  • Experience with plasmid and synthetic biology circuit design and testing
  • Experience with large-scale data analysis, machine learning, or bioinformatics
  • The ability to travel occasionally for domestic and international events (eg: team meetings, conferences, and workshops).
  • A humble approach to collaboration and mentorship, including good listening skills, open-mindedness, receptivity to feedback, and flexibility.
  • Ability to communicate effectively with varied stakeholders to ensure that project and organizational needs are met.
  • Excitement for interdisciplinary field-building efforts, particularly within data-driven biology.

Salary and benefits 

This postdoctoral position will pay a stipend of $85k/year. We also offer benefits including: 

  • Health Insurance (inc. medical, dental, and vision)
  • Family leave (up to 13 weeks)
  • 401k matching
  • Paid time off and sick time
  • 15 company holidays, plus one day off for your Birthday
  • Monthly wellness benefit
  • Volunteer community service hours 
  • Educational reimbursement plan
  • Child care reimbursement

Interested applicants are encouraged to contact:

  • David Ross, david.ross [at] nist.gov (david[dot]ross[at]nist[dot]gov) 

We welcome everyone 

We are an equal opportunity employer. That means we don’t discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. 

Created January 27, 2025, Updated February 3, 2025