(ID: 2024-5939)

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 around the globe. 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).

Benefits:

  • 100% Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage for Employees
  • Paid Time Off (Including Holidays)
  • Employee Referral Bonus
  • 401K Match
  • Tuition reimbursement and professional development opportunities
  • Flexible Spending Accounts:
    • Healthcare (FSA)
    • Parking Reimbursement Account (PRK)
    • Dependent Care Assistant Program (DCAP)
    • Transportation Reimbursement Account (TRN)

Overview
Axle is seeking a highly ambitious, adaptable, structured, and detail-oriented Scientist to join our vibrant team at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Vaccine Research Center (VRC), Structural Biology Section (SBS).


Technical Requirements:

  • Coordinate cryo-EM data collection on vaccine targets including: 
    • SARS-CoV-2 spike 
    • Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV-1) 
    • Influenza 
    • Malaria 
    • Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) 
    • Simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) 
    • Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) 
    • Norovirus 
    • Simian Immunodeficiency virus 
    • Lassa virus 
  • Optimize sample vitrification conditions and collect high magnification data, at approximately one angstrom per pixel, on various viruses related to ongoing or upcoming VRC clinical trials such as HIV-1 fusion peptide-directed neutralizing antibodies, HIV-1 broadly neutralizing antibody candidates for passive immunization, and antibodies elicited by universal influenza vaccine candidates. 
  • Expand the breadth and capability of HIV-1 projects by increasing the number of HIV-1 envelope trimer strains. 
  • Advance the quality of data acquisition to obtain datasets at resolutions better than 4.0Å, in some cases better than 3.5Å and rare cases better than 3.0Å. 
  • Analyze cryo-EM data collections including frame alignment, contrast transfer function estimation, particle picking through neural network algorithms, 2D classification, 3D ab-initio reconstructions, 3D classification through heterogeneous refinement, homogeneous refinement, masked local refinement, particle polishing, and 3D variability. 
  • Provide scientific expertise to cross-group project teams to inform on recent advances and offer constructive critiques on experiment proposals in order to facilitate vaccine design. 
  • Train students, postdocs, and staff scientists of the SBS in cryoEM data processing using various state-of-the-art software for 3D reconstructions and atomic model building. 
  • Review various algorithms in training to contrast stochastic gradient descent with maximum likelihood optimizations to enhance data processing options for difficult datasets. 
  • Train students and postdocs of collaborating groups including a lab in New York in all aspects of cryo-EM, including consultation and hands-on facilitation for the startup of COVID-19 projects. 
  • Publish the findings from experiments listed above in peer-reviewed journals. 
  • Coordinate deposit of experimentally determined data and atomic level models in public databases such as the Protein Data Bank and the Electron Microscopy Data Bank.

Specific Qualifications:  

  • Ph.D with specific training in cryo-EM is required. 
  • Minimum of five (5) years of postdoctoral experience in structural biology. 
  • Candidate should be familiar with standard EM sample preparation protocols including negative staining and plunge freezing. 
  • Experience with operation KRIOS microscopes or similar. 
  • Experience with common cryo-EM software packages for collecting and processing data such as Leginon, Relion, cryoSPARC, and EMAN2. 
  • Experience with software for model building and refinement such as Phenix, ccp4-em, Chimera, Rosetta, and Isolde. 
  • Ability to establish a database for project and data tracking and organizing large computational resources for processing and storage of approximately a petabyte of data.

The diversity of Axle’s 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 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 individual’s 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.

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