Senior Scientist; Genome Engineering - Genetics

Overview

Position Summary

Scheduled

Hours:

40

The Senior Scientist in the Cremins Lab will oversee and implement specific research projects, participate in collaborative projects with other lab members, and develop experimental protocols and standards for cell and molecular biology in the laboratory. The scientist will work on projects involving genome engineering (degrons, dTAG systems, Cas9, Cas
13, dCas, CRISPRoff, CRISPRon, and other emerging molecular technologies) and lead experiments differentiating human iPSCs to neurons or organoids. The ideal candidate will be versatile in genome engineering and cell biology for new tech development, standardizing pipelines, mentoring trainees on construct building, and developing publication-quality workflows for in situ sequencing data analysis.

The candidate will act as a subTeam leader for genome engineering projects, maintain and organize lab records, train junior scientists on technical assays, assist the PI with manuscript preparation and grant writing, and collaborate to design, optimize, and standardize experimental and analysis pipelines to accelerate high-quality publications. They will review trainee data, provide feedback, and ensure experiments are conducted with proper controls and consistency.

The ideal candidate should have a strong background in: culturing induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs); differentiation of pluripotent cells into neuronal lineages; genome engineering using CRISPR/Cas9; molecular biology and biochemistry techniques; cell biology approaches (immunofluorescence, RNA/DNA FISH); chromatin techniques and sequencing technologies (RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, CUT&Tag/CUT&RUN, Hi-C). Prior mentoring/supervisory experience is highly desirable. Prior grant-writing experience is advantageous.

This role suits someone who enjoys a fast-paced, bleeding-edge scientific environment and is eager to serve as a steady imaging and computational scientist. The role rewards collaboration, adherence to excellent protocols, organization, safety, and leadership to foster a positive, inclusive lab climate. Strong problem-solving, independence, and the ability to generate molecular and cellular data with attention to detail are valued.

• Collaborates on designing, conducting, and reporting research projects.
• Responsible for deliverables of the Cremins lab genome engineering subTeam, including conceptual strategy selection, protocol development, experimental design, validation, and training of lab members in assays such as degrons/dTAG systems in human iPSCs, Cas
  13 RNA editing, dCas9-based CRISPRi/CRISPRa, and other genome engineering technologies.
• Develops expertise in training human iPSC differentiation to organoids and monolayer neurons, including pilots to facilitate neural aging in the lab.
• Leads multiple research efforts and assists in planning and conducting experiments on neuronal genome regulation to elucidate structure–function relationships across nuclei, synapses, and circuits.
• Assists the PI with NIH data portal approvals, grant and university paperwork, and RRPR reports, coordinating with subTeam members to gather content.
• Edits and provides feedback on proposals, grant submissions, and manuscript drafts.
• Collaborates with computational experts to conduct efficient analyses of mammalian neuron genome structure–function data and trains to master code analysis in genomic and imaging data (e.g., methylation analysis, Hi-C, Cut&Run, Cut&Tag).
• Mentors junior trainees and trains new lab members in genome engineering and cellular differentiation.
• Oversees and writes SOPs for sequencing technologies, genome engineering, computational algorithms, iPSC differentiation to neurons, organoids, and assembloids.
• Maintains safety procedures and documentation for lab conditions, including lab freezer maps and reagent storage to maintain organizational excellence for a ~25 person lab.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Works in a laboratory environment with potential exposure to biological, chemical, and radioactive hazards.
• Must be physically able to wear protective equipment and provide standard care for research animals.

The statements describe the general nature of work and are not an exhaustive list. Management reserves the right to revise duties at any time.

Required Qualifications

PhD or terminal degree or combination of education and experience may substitute for minimum education.

No specific certification/professional license is required for this position.

Postdoctoral experience (3 years) and relevant work experience as applicable.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in cell biology, genome engineering/biotechnology, or neuroscience.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal skills, independence, and ability to work in a respectful, inclusive environment.
• Experience in CRISPR and genome engineering.
• Experience with human iPSC culture, brain organoids, neuron characterization, computational biology, or in vivo…