Careers

Data Scientist

The Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) is looking to recruit a faculty member with proven expertise in Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML). Experience in computational methods, mathematical modeling and informatics applied to biological systems would be preferred. It is expected that the new recruit will join WFIRM’s research programs with other WFIRM’s faculty members to support applications for research funding. The new faculty member will be operating in a multidisciplinary environment so a willingness to collaborate across functional teams is essential. He/She should have an aptitude and desire to learn and apply new techniques and is expected to possess personal attributes of integrity, creativity, problem solving,and a strong work ethic.

WFIRM is a multidisciplinary group of physicians and research scientist involved in a myriad of programs focused on bringing curative medicines to the patient. In addition to our world-class regenerative medical programs, WFIRM is recognized as a leader in the organ-on-a-chip platform as well as pushing the boundaries of tissue engineering. Through its relationship with Virginia Tech School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, WFIRM is involved in developing solutions over the entire spectrum of regenerative medicine. In short, WFIRM is a unique environment ripe with opportunities for applying AI/ML across a diverse set of scientific disciplines.

Successful candidates will be responsible for some or all of the following:

• Design, develop and validate new machine learning models that can uncover and describe the relationship between genetic and genomic variation, cellular phenotypes, and clinical conditions and symptoms.
• Design, develop and validate new methods for characterizing variation in large cellular populations assayed in high-throughput, multi-dimensional assays.
• Design and integrate new computational methods, mathematical models and bioinformatics approaches with molecular assays at the bench to provide mechanistic understandings of development and regeneration, discover therapies and streamline the application of systems and synthetic biology.
• Design and integrate new computational methods, mathematical models and bioinformatics approaches with molecular assays at the bench to provide mechanistic understandings of development and regeneration, discover therapies and streamline the application of systems and synthetic biology.
• Develop computational approaches rooted in machine learning to make precise biological inferences that can not only guide experiments, but also reveal general mechanistic principles underlying cellular organization and molecular networks.
• Work in a highly collaborative and cross-disciplinary team to advance technology platforms aimed at delivering robust, quantitative, mechanistic and scalable research and clinical benefit.
• Developing methodologies to leverage R&D data and artificial intelligence to connect different components; patients, tissues, in vitro models and in vivo models, in translational research.
• Develop, implement and validate the application and use of modern machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques – applying robust statistical and quantitative methods for the design of experiments – to allow rigorous model evaluation, uncertainty quantification, prediction and data generation.
• Integrate advances in diverse fields of machine learning and computer science into modern analytics infrastructure and workflows.

Essential Education and Expertise:

• Ph.D. in Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Engineering, Computational Chemistry, Computational Biology, Physics or related field with a focus in Machine Learning or Artificial Intelligence
• Expertise demonstrated by research publications or industrial experience in modern, applied machine learning, data mining, pattern recognition, or artificial intelligence. Direct experience with and application to the analysis of complex biological datasets and phenomena is ideal.
• Excellent communication skills are a must
• Ability to comfortably interact with diverse group of scientists and physicians
• Practical and theoretical understanding of fundamental models and algorithms in supervised and unsupervised learning: generalized linear models, kernel machines, decision trees, neural networks; boosting and model aggregation; clustering and mixture modeling; Bayesian inference and model selection, variational inference, Gaussian processes, causal inference, Monte Carlo methods; dimensionality reduction and manifold learning
• Competency in programming and scripting required utilizing languages such as C/C++ and Python.

Equal Employment Opportunity

It is the policy of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center to administer all educational and employment activities without discrimination because of race, sex, age, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or veteran status (except where sex is a bona fide occupational qualification or a statutory requirement) in accordance with all local, state, national laws, executive orders, regulations and guidelines.

NEW: Open Positions

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine 

Job Summary

The WFIRM Postdoctoral Research Fellow will participate in a research project to develop and test new strategies to advance lung-on-a-chip technologies for the modeling of disease, toxicology and countermeasure/drug development. The applicant will perform a variety of complex tasks including polymer chemistry, biochemistry, cell biology, material mechanical testing, computer assisted design, in vitro biological and functional tests for verification of tissue construct viability and function and biochemical, engineering and functional assays.  

Research will be performed in a team environment and the application will be provided with a variety of procedures and techniques previously outlined by established protocols and other scientific data related to the production of tissue engineered constructs.  

Specific duties will include basic and advanced chemistry protocols, cell culture and expansion, biomaterial characterization, physical characterization of biomaterials, assembly of 3D constructs using biofabrication and bioprinting techniques, collection and organization of data, and assisting in the preparation of reports and manuscripts. Chemistry, engineering, and cell biology experience a plus, or biomaterials/materials and tissue engineering background a plus. 

Education/Experience: PhD with a focus in the biological, chemical, engineering or physical sciences, or biomedical engineering.

Skills and Qualifications

• Experience in cell culture and molecular biology techniques. 
• Experience in chemical reactions and polymer chemistry.
• Experience with development and testing of tissue engineering constructs
• Experience in biofabrication and tissue engineering technologies such as bioprinting, for creation of tissue engineered constructs.  
• Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or Materials Science background a plus.
• General computer skills, including the use of Excel spreadsheets
• Attention to detail
• Excellent organizational skills
• Time management
• Excellent record-keeping and documentation skills

Work Environment

The Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) is a world leader in the development of technologies and products in the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.  WFIRM is an interdisciplinary institute, with a semi-open laboratory concept aimed towards fostering collaboration in a variety of research areas. WFIRM occupies several floors in the Richard H. Dean Biomedical Building in the Wake Forest Innovation Quarter in Winston-Salem.  

Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability or source of payment.

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We need strong candidates who will be highly motivated, and will have exceptional scientific creativity, good organizational skills, and effective communication skills (written and oral). The applicant 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. Evidence of productivity in regards to publications, funding applications and research achievements is required. The position offers a competitive salary and exposure to a rich and highly collaborative scientific environment.

Relevant experience in one or more of the following categories is also desirable.

• 3D cell culture, organoid fabrication and characterization, disease modeling
• Biochemistry, biomaterial chemistry, hydrogels development
• Microfluidic development for biological applications, fluid (gas/liquid) modeling and control
• Chemical, biochemical and biological sampling, assay development and standardization

Scientist (PhD) - NIH studies

The Wake Forest Institute of Regenerative Medicine in the Wake Forest School of Medicine is recruiting a PhD-level scientist to support NIH-funded investigational studies into understanding and treating the molecular and physiological toxicity caused by corneal exposure to reactive organic vapors. Specifically, we are seeking a candidate prepared to investigate mechanisms of ocular toxicity in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo, with the goal of elucidating toxic mechanisms, identifying potential biomarkers of injury and outcome, and developing innovative new strategies to treat and repair corneal damage. This work will build on a rich history of ocular toxicology in the McNutt lab by expanding to industrially important chemicals and incorporating molecular readouts and diagnostic biomarker detection via tear film, exosomes and clinical markers.

Applicants should have a general proficiency in molecular biology, immunofluorescent histochemistry, omics-based analyses with a good work ethic and enthusiasm about developing translation products. The preferred applicant will be have demonstrated the following capabilities:

1. Expertise in molecular toxicology and/or corneal or cutaneous injury processes
2. Ability to independently plan, conduct and complete studies in vitro and in vivo
3. Ability to present the study and results in a format suitable for peer-reviewed publications and scientific presentations
4. Ability to productively interact with graduate students and technical staff to design and conduct and analyze research studies.

Scientist (PhD) - Neurological

The Wake Forest Institute of Regenerative Medicine in the Wake Forest School of Medicine is recruiting a PhD-level scientist to support investigational studies into understanding and treating neurological diseases caused by exposure to biological toxins such as botulinum neurotoxin. Specifically, we are seeking to investigate mechanisms of biological toxin translocation, intracellular trafficking and intracellular clearance with the goal of developing innovative new strategies to treat the damage done by toxin-related diseases as well as other neurological conditions. Studies will involve development and/or use of active neurotoxins, atoxic derivatives and novel chimeric toxins modified to have pharmacologically or experimentally valuable properties. The preferred applicant will have the following experience:

1. Protein expression and purification
2. Training in molecular toxicology and/or neuroscience
3. Planning, conducting and completing studies in vitro and in vivo
4. Presenting results through peer-reviewed publications and scientific presentations
5. Interacting with a team to design and conduct and analyze research studies.

 

At varying levels of skill and experience, and under a general supervision plan, lab techs develop, modify, and implement previously developed and original experimental procedures in the research.

Responsibilities include:

• Perform routine and non-routine tests and analyses using the appropriate technical equipment and instruments
• Receive or collect, as well as process, samples
• Calculate test results, and log and report results with appropriate graphing and statistical software
• Prepare and supervise experiments
• Perform quality control and calibrate equipment if necessary
• Maintain equipment in proper working order and maintain a clean work area
• Practice safe work habits, including complying with all safety, health, and environmental rules and regulations

Minimum Qualifications for Lab Technician

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED) required, associate's or Bachelor's degree in a scientific field preferred
• 1-2 years of experience working in a lab
• Computer skills: knowledge of Microsoft Office and other relevant computer programs
• Analytical and numerical skills: ability to perform mathematical calculations (add, subtract, multiply, divide) in different units of measurement; ability to use concepts such as fractions, percentages, and ratios
• Strong attention to detail
• Ability to write correspondence and reports
• Excellent organizational skills
• Ability to perform physically demanding work such as moving and lifting equipment, standing for long periods of time, etc.

Desired skills or Expertise

• Cell culture, primary cell isolation and characterization, 3D culture methodology
• Biochemistry, chemistry, biomaterials
• Engineering, microfluidics, fluid (gas/liquid) engineering
• Performance of chemical, biochemical and biological assays
• Experience with transcriptomics, proteomics or metabolomics 

 

There are currently no administrative positions available at this time.