Biologist II

Battelle • Columbus, OH

19h • Hybrid

About The Position

As a Biologist II, you will join a multidisciplinary team advancing biological and computational research in support of national security, environmental, and health-related missions. You will apply strong artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) and computational biology skills to develop and adapt machine learning models, enhance biological data interpretation, support risk and threat assessments, and contribute to digital twin and virtual testbed efforts. You will also perform wet lab experiments in microbiology and molecular biology, analyze results, prepare technical documentation, and collaborate with scientists across disciplines. Additionally, you will actively identify and capitalize on opportunities to lead projects that enhance capabilities and foster the development of novel technical approaches. This is a hybrid role with both computational and experimental responsibilities, and candidates should be motivated to contribute in either mode based on program needs. This position offers an exhilarating opportunity to collaborate with a dynamic, multidisciplinary team committed to advancing scientific knowledge and solving our customer’s toughest challenges. This full-time position will be located in Columbus, Ohio.

Requirements

• PhD, or MS and >2 years, or BS and >5 years in a relevant biological discipline (e.g., molecular biology, microbiology, biochemistry, cell biology, bioinformatics, computational biology).
• Strong applied AI/ML capability, including demonstrated experience implementing end-to-end ML workflows and fine-tuning transformer/LLM models for biological or biomedical problems.
• Proficiency in Python (preferred) and/or R, including common scientific/ML libraries (e.g., pandas, scikit-learn, PyTorch/TensorFlow).
• Proficiency in Bash and Linux systems (e.g., Ubuntu, WSL).
• Expertise designing and executing experiments rooted in a biological discipline.
• Familiarity with biology-focused LLMs or models (e.g., BioGPT and BioMedLM) or evidence of quickly adapting general LLMs to biological use cases.
• Open-source tooling proficiency (e.g., Git/GitHub, Jupyter notebooks, reproducible environments).
• Clear, concise communication (written and oral) and effectiveness in cross-functional teams.
• U.S. citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a government security clearance.
• Medically fit to work in the laboratory to perform assigned duties including the ability to wear personal protection equipment (PPE), lift up to 50 pounds, and work around hazardous/infectious materials.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated experience incorporating an AI/ML tool into a computational workflow. Examples include, but are not limited to: a) training/evaluating classification or regression models on omics, imaging, or text data, b) fine-tuning BERT/transformers and establishing evaluation metrics/criteria, and c) integrating LLMs into tools.
• Experience working within laboratory quality management systems (e.g., ISO 9001, ISO17025, GLP).

Responsibilities

• AI/ML & Computational Biology Implement and adapt machine learning workflows for classification, prediction, information extraction, and sequence/text analysis.
• Fine‑tune and evaluate transformer/LLM models and integrate them into analysis pipelines and tools.
• Build and maintain data processing and model evaluation workflows, contributing to validation, benchmarking, and documentation.
• Support digital twin and virtual testbed efforts by preparing datasets and interpreting model outputs.
• Experimental Biology (Wet Lab) Design and execute experiments in biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, and/or microbiology following SOPs and best practices.
• Troubleshoot experimental protocols; maintain instruments; ensure data integrity and traceability.
• Follow established safety guidelines to safely work with hazardous/infectious (RG2) materials.
• Collaboration, Communication, & Reporting Analyze and interpret results; prepare technical reports, presentations, and manuscripts.
• Mentor and cross-train junior staff in lab and computational techniques.
• Work independently to meet milestones with guidance from senior scientists and project managers.
• Some domestic travel is possible but not anticipated.

Benefits

• Balance life through a compressed work schedule : Most of our team follows a flexible, compressed work schedule that allows for every other Friday off—giving you a dedicated day to accomplish things in your personal life without using vacation time.
• Enjoy enhanced work flexibility, including a hybrid arrangement: You have options for where and when you work. Our Together with Flexibility model allows you to work 60% in-office and 40% remote, with Monday and Tuesday as common in-office days, dependent on team and position needs .
• Take time to recharge : You get paid time off to support work-life balance and keep motivated.
• Prioritize wellness : Stay healthy with medical, dental, and vision coverage with wellness incentives and benefits plus a variety of optional supplemental benefits.
• Better together : Coverage for partners, gender-affirming care and health support, and family formation support.
• Build your financial future : Build financial stability with an industry-leading 401(k) retirement savings plan. For most employees, we put in 5 percent whether you contribute or not, and match your contributions on top of that.
• Advance your education : Tuition assistance is available to pursue higher education.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree