Staff Scientist, WF Institute for Regenerative Medicine

Overview

The Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) is recognized as an international leader in translating scientific discovery into clinical therapies. Physicians and scientists at WFIRM were the first in the world to engineer laboratory-grown organs that were successfully implanted into humans. Today, this interdisciplinary team that numbers about 400 is working to engineer more than 40 different replacement tissues and organs, and to develop healing cell therapies – all with the goal to cure, rather than merely treat, disease. WFIRM is a world leader in the research and development of technologies and products in the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.  WFIRM is an interdisciplinary institute, with an open laboratory concept aimed towards fostering collaboration. WFIRM is located in the Richard H. Dean Building at the Wake Forest Innovation Quarter in Winston-Salem, NC. WFIRM houses an FDA compliant facility for the development of clinical products.  Fifteen applications of technologies developed by WFIRM scientists have been applied to patients.

JOB SUMMARY

Under the direction of Principal Investigators or faculty, the Research Staff Scientist performs scientific or associated work by supporting, planning, developing, implementing, evaluating, reporting, and completing more practical aspects of the work. The Research Staff Scientist may have their own research projects and/or typically have full responsibilities for specific areas of research or methodology development and user support. The Staff Scientist may have supervisory responsibility of Associate Staff Scientists, Technicians, Post-doctoral Fellows, and Graduate students. Successful candidates will be highly motivated, and will have exceptional scientific creativity, good organizational skills, and effective communication skills (written and oral). The candidate should have the ability to work both independently to design and conduct experiments, as well as the ability to collaborate effectively with team members inside and outside the immediate lab environment. 

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

• Terminal doctoral degree in related scientific areas with five years' experience as an Associate Staff Scientist or equivalent professional experience at a similar location.
• Relevant experience in one or more of the following categories is also desirable:
  • Cell culture, cell biology, organoid fabrication and characterization, disease modeling, molecular biology, physiology, pharmacology, toxicology
  • Biochemistry, biomaterial chemistry, hydrogel development, bioengineering, materials science
  • Microfluidic development for biological applications, fluid (gas/liquid) modeling and control, nanotechnology
  • Chemical, biochemical and biological sampling, assay development and standardization, bioinformatics, artificial intelligence, computer programming and 3D printing.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Performs routine and highly specialized or unique laboratory tests for specific research projects.
2. Performs and devises specialized tests and research procedures, troubleshooting problems with their own and other researchers' results.
3. Provides input to the overall research design, evaluate research data, and initiate alternative approaches to improve quality of the results.
4. Evaluates the quality of research outcomes and ensure that all laboratory procedures are performed properly.
5. Trains and provides guidance to technicians, interns, and researchers in specialized procedures, use of equipment, and theoretical basis of unique tests.
6. Prepares articles, manuscripts, reports, and documents that relate to projects.
7. Participates in professional activities that relate to the research.
8. Ensures timely progress of research projects, identifies areas of technical difficulty, and provides solutions.
9. Evaluates progress of research projects and assess validity of research data.
10. Participates in grant proposal planning and writing and may develop own research projects.
11. Manages research projects and oversees day-to-day laboratory activities.
12. Ensures that all laboratory procedures are performed in adherence with applicable regulations.
13. Assist with the writing, planning, development, implementation, evaluation, reporting, and completion of the practical aspects of the projects.
14. Has responsibilities for specific areas of research or methodology development and user support.
15. Functions as a lead resource for Associate Staff Scientists, Technicians, Post-doctoral Fellows, and Graduate Students.

SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated leadership ability as a research project manager
• Ability to plan, develop and coordinate multiple projects
• Ability to participate in long range research planning
• Ability to apply diversified knowledge of scientific research principles, practices, and protocols in research projects
• Demonstrated ability to make recommendations and conclusions which serve as the basis for decision making in a specialty area
• Ability to develop scientific reports and manuscripts/articles/documents based on original research
• Demonstrated ability to conduct and publish self-initiated research
• Excellent oral, written, listening, and interpersonal communication skills
• Knowledge of grants and contract preparation and management
• Comprehensive knowledge of scientific concepts and theories in area of specialty
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others
• Ability to operate laboratory equipment
• Knowledge of the maintenance of routine records and reports
• Excellent oral, written, listening, and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others
• Ability to operate laboratory equipment
• Knowledge of the maintenance of routine records and reports

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Research laboratory environment
• Exposure to chemicals
• Exposure to glass and other breakable objects
• Possible exposure to animals
• Possible exposure to bloodborne pathogens
• May be required to work hours beyond typical 8 a.m.-5 p.m. schedule and/or evenings and weekends as needed