Department of Health and Human Services

National Institutes of Health

National Institute on Aging

Intramural Research Program

The National Institute on Aging (NIA), Intramural Research Program (IRP), a major research component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), is recruiting a Staff Scientist 1 in the Lymphocyte Differentiation Section (LDS) of the Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology (LMBI) in Baltimore, MD. The LDS has three major interests: 1) Transcriptional features and their epigenetic regulation in CD8⁺ T cell subpopulations in young and older adults; 2) General and antigen-specific α/β TCR repertoire diversity, TCR clonal distribution, and their age-associated changes and consequences; 3) Regulation and function of telomeres, telomerase, and CDKN2A in lymphocyte proliferation, differentiation, function, and aging.

The Staff Scientist 1 will be responsible for conducting wet lab experiments and will possess excellent skills in molecular and cellular biology, immunology methods and data analyses, including but not limited to, data from high-dimensional flow cytometry, scRNAseq, and other sequencing-based methods. The incumbent will play a major role in collaboration with the Section Chief in project management, manuscript preparation, experimental design, training postdoctoral fellows, junior trainees and other staff, and liaising with other divisions of the LMBI and with LDS collaborators. Additionally, the Staff Scientist will actively participate in maintaining excellent experimental records and research continuity within the Section.

The successful candidate must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in immunology, cell or molecular biology, or related fields, with knowledge of bioinformatics and a productive postdoctoral experience as evidenced by a record of primary and collaborative authorship in peer-reviewed publications in internationally recognized journals. The successful individual will have proficient skills in molecular biology, immunology, and a strong understanding and application of bioinformatic tools. Programming skills using commonly used languages such as Python and R in a Unix environment are preferred. Knowledge and familiarity with widely used molecular and cellular biology tools are expected. Experience in working with and supporting a research group and mentoring will be highly valued. Excellent written and oral communication skills are also essential.

Staff Scientists do not receive independent resources, although they often work independently and have sophisticated skills and knowledge essential to the work of the Laboratory. Although this Staff Scientist will be supervised by the Section Chief, they will be interacting with the scientists from the IRP and scientific community at large. 

Salary is commensurate with research experience and accomplishments. A full Civil Service package of benefits (including retirement, health and life insurance, Thrift Savings Plan participation, etc.) is available. All employees of the Federal Government are subject to the conflict-of-interest statutes and regulations, including the Standards of Ethical Conduct. Additional information regarding the NIA IRP is available at the following website: www.irp.nia.nih.gov.

To Apply:

Applicants must submit the following materials:

1. A current curriculum vitae
2. A bibliography
3. A statement of research interests

Please note the following guidelines:

• Do not include photographs in any documents; they must be removed prior to submission.
• Do not include your birth date or Social Security number in any application materials.
• Letters of reference are not required at the time of application but will be requested from candidates identified as finalists.

Submit your complete application package to [email protected], addressed to Angela Jackson, Program Specialist, Office of the Scientific Director, National Institute on Aging. Be sure to reference Vacancy #NIA-IRP-25-02-AJ in your submission. Completed applications must be received by 11:59 PM ET on December 9, 2024, to be considered in the first review round. If a selection is not made from the first round of review, applications submitted after the first-round deadline will be considered in subsequent review rounds if necessary.

DHHS and NIH are Equal Opportunity Employers.

The NIH is dedicated to building a diverse community in its training and employment programs and encourages the application and nomination of qualified women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities.