The Associate Scientist will serve as the platform lead for Xenium spatial transcriptomics projects at Single Cell Biology Lab (SCBL) within The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, ensuring the timely delivery of high-quality, robust data. The SCBL is a core facility supporting the scientific research community with cutting-edge single-cell technologies, including dissociative single-cell omics, spatial omics, and high-content screening. This role is central to the lab's spatial genomics capabilities, requiring deep expertise in the Xenium workflow, exceptional project coordination, and strong communication with scientific stakeholders.
The ideal candidate will be the technical expert for all Xenium operations from sample handling and experimental execution to data quality control and workflow optimization. You will leverage your strong background in molecular biology, tissue handling, and single-cell technologies to enhance and expand the capabilities of the Single Cell Biology Lab.
Key Responsibilities & Essential Functions
Platform Leadership: Serve as the Xenium Platform Lead and Subject Matter Expert (SME), providing guidance and support to end-users and the broader scientific community.
Project Management & Execution: Coordinate the full lifecycle of Xenium projects, including managing sample submission and receiving, providing service quotations, executing experiments, and ensuring final data quality control (QC).
System Maintenance: Oversee instrument management, including maintaining the Xenium instrument, managing stock and inventory, and performing advanced troubleshooting of equipment and assays.
Process Optimization & Development: Drive the continuous improvement of the platform by optimizing existing workflows and developing new spatial genomics capabilities and technologies.
Scientific Awareness: Stay current with the newest developments in the spatial genomics field and effectively communicate technological updates to the team and research community.
Meticulous Documentation: Maintain excellent documentation standards, including comprehensive lab notebooks, SOPs, error/work logs, metadata, and sample information.
Stakeholder Communication: Ensure seamless communication with end-users, vendors, colleagues, and managers to coordinate and successfully complete all Xenium projects.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Required
Education: Master’s degree (M.S.) in Biology, Molecular Biology, or a related scientific field.
Experience: 2-4 years of experience in a core facility or industry setting.
Molecular & RNA Biology: Deep and comprehensive understanding of RNA and molecular biology principles, including associated assays.
Imaging-Based Spatial Genomics Expertise: Hands-on experience with FISH-based platforms, including 10x Genomics Xenium, MERFISH, and seqFISH.
Technical Breadth: Comprehensive knowledge of various spatial genomics technologies (e.g., Xenium, Visium, MERFISH, seqFISH).
Sample Handling: Direct experience with tissue sectioning, handling, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) techniques.
Documentation: Experience in writing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and familiarity with Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) and Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELN).
Operational Skills: Proven project and lab management experience, including managing stock, inventory, and instrument uptime.
Soft Skills: Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills; proven ability to thrive as a team player within interdisciplinary groups.
Preferred
Education: Ph.D. preferred
Single-Cell Experience: Hands-on experience with single-cell technologies (e.g., 10x Chromium, smart-seq, split-and-pool methods).
Biopharma Industry Experience: Preferred experience working in an industrial setting, such as the biotechnology or pharmaceutical sector, demonstrating familiarity with industry-standard workflows and requirements.
Histology Expertise: Experience in histopathology.
Development: Proven track record in technology development or assay optimization.
Pay Range: $69,711 - $90,624
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About JAX:
The Jackson Laboratory is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institution with a National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center and nearly 3,000 employees in locations across the United States (Maine, Connecticut, California), Japan and China. Its mission is to discover precise genomic solutions for disease and empower the global biomedical community in the shared quest to improve human health.
Founded in 1929, JAX applies over nine decades of expertise in genetics to increase understanding of human disease, advancing treatments and cures for cancer, neurological and immune disorders, diabetes, aging and heart disease. It models and interprets genomic complexity, integrates basic research with clinical application, educates current and future scientists, and provides critical data, tools and services to the global biomedical community. For more information, please visit www.jax.org.
EEO Statement:
The Jackson Laboratory provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, age, mental disability, physical disability, medical condition, gender, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, marital status, national origin, veteran status, and other classifications protected by applicable state and local non-discrimination laws.
Skills Required
- Master's degree in Biology, Molecular Biology, or related field
- 2-4 years of experience in a core facility or industry setting
- Deep understanding of RNA and molecular biology principles
- Hands-on experience with imaging-based spatial genomics technologies
- Experience with tissue sectioning and immunohistochemistry techniques
- Experience in writing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
- Proven project and lab management experience
- Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills
What We Do
Cancer. Diabetes. Alzheimer’s. Heart Disease. Parkinson’s. The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) leads the search to cure diseases rooted in our DNA. Founded in 1929, we are an NCI-designated Cancer Center since 1983 and an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit research organization with over 90 years of experience in genetics and genomics research. JAX blends the brightest minds with state-of-the-art resources to accelerate discovery. Areas of Discovery (75+ Principal Investigators, >250 Ph.D.s, M.D.s, and D.V.M.s): • Cancer: We are a National Cancer Institute designated Cancer Center focusing on cancer initiation, progression, prevention and therapies. • Developmental/reproductive biology: birth defects, Down syndrome, osteoporosis, fertility • Immunology: HIV-AIDS, anemia, autoimmunity, cancer immunology, immune disorders, lupus, transplant rejection • Metabolic diseases: atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, microbiome • Neurobiology: blindness, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, deafness, epilepsy, glaucoma, macular degeneration, neurodegenerative diseases • Neurobehavioral disorders: autism, addiction, depression Supporting Global Research: • The JAX Mouse Repository and Scientific Services are among the premier resources available for biomedical research. Committed to Education: • Summer Student Program (undergrad & high school) • Teaching the Genome Generation Short Course • Ph.D. programs: U. Maine, Tufts University and U. Connecticut • Courses, Conferences and Workshops
