BCIL � Biotechnology Lead

Brentwood School•Los Angeles, CA

1d•$140,000 - $200,000•Onsite

About The Position

Brentwood School inspires every student to: Think critically and creatively. Act ethically. Shape a future with meaning. BRENTWOOD SCHOOL BCIL Biotechnology Lead Brentwood School, a vibrant and diverse K12 independent school, is seeking a full-time Biotechnology Innovation Group Lead. About the Belldegrun Center for Innovation and Leadership The Belldegrun Center for Innovation and Leadership engages K-12 students with real-world challenges that culminate in a multi-year independent study program. Students develop their skills as creative, curious, and critical thinkers; collaborators and communicators; innovative problem solvers, and researchers. Independent Study opportunities in the BCIL focus on depth of understanding and span STEM, the arts, humanities, civics, policy, and entrepreneurship. Position Overview Brentwood School is expanding the scope of independent research opportunities associated with the BCIL. As such, the School is seeking an experienced Research Lead to join a newly formed innovation group. The Biotechnology Innovation Group Lead will mentor exceptional high school students working on independent study projects at the forefront of the most transformative fields in the life sciences. This role requires a professional researcher who can mentor cutting-edge research projects in molecular biology, genetics, synthetic biology, bioengineering, or related areas and lead a research group of students in these disciplines. In addition to on-campus research facilities, the Group Lead will also work to place students with leading researchers and companies shaping these technologies. The role also includes teaching 1-2 sections of traditional biology or biotechnology, with the goal, in addition to quality instruction, of broadening student participation in independent research projects. As the program's internal aspects grow and succeed, the BCIL also has externally focused goals, including creating and supporting a network of public school teachers to teach modern genomics, supplying the necessary equipment for such experiments, and defining and supporting community-wide research projects.

Requirements

Advanced degree (PhD, or MD-PhD) in biology, biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, or related field
Experience leading a research group
Previous mentorship of undergraduate or graduate students in biological or biomedical research
Significant experience with biotechnology research, biomedical research, or both
Strong laboratory skills and experience with modern biotechnology techniques and instrumentation
Track record of research publications, contributed open-source bioinformatics tools, or recognized scientific work
Deep understanding of both theoretical foundations and practical laboratory applications
Active engagement with the biotechnology research or professional communities

Responsibilities

Lead the Biotechnology research program within the BCIL Innovation Group and supervise the supporting team of scientists and research assistants.
Principle Investigator supervising students independent study projects in biotechnology
Develop students' laboratory skills, data analysis capabilities, and scientific communication
Foster understanding of both the technical possibilities and ethical implications of biotechnology and the life sciences
Oversee the IRB process for student research projects
Guide students through the complete multi-year research cycle from hypothesis generation through implementation and evaluation
Teach section(s) of traditional biology or biotechnology (general, honors, or AP level)
Serve as Principal Investigator for student projects in molecular biology, genetics, synthetic biology, bioengineering, bioinformatics, or biotechnology applications
Design experiences involving real laboratory techniques, biological datasets, and opportunities for novel contributions
Provide technical guidance on experimental protocols, controls, troubleshooting, and statistical analysis
Supervise work with techniques and tools (PCR, gel electrophoresis, cell culture, CRISPR, protein analysis, bioinformatics pipelines, etc.)
Support students in publishing research, submitting work to science fairs and symposia, or competing in biology and biotech competitions
Ensure compliance with biosafety standards, ethical guidelines, and regulatory requirements
Connect students with biotechnology and biomedical research labs at UCLA, USC, Caltech, Cedars-Sinai, California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, and industry research divisions in the Los Angeles area and internationally
Facilitate internships or research placements at biotech companies, pharmaceutical firms, academic research groups, or clinical research settings
Arrange mentorship with researchers, principal investigators, postdocs, and industry scientists
Build relationships with the Southern California biotech ecosystem, including startups, accelerators, and investment firms
Integrate emerging developments in genomics, immunotherapy, CRISPR gene editing, synthetic biology, drug discovery, or computational biology
Create interdisciplinary projects applying biotechnology to AI/ML, engineering (biomedical devices), creative arts, social sciences, or other verticals
Develop laboratory capabilities and access to modern instrumentation, sequencing platforms, or bioinformatics tools
Address ethical dimensions of biotechnology, including biosafety, equity in medicine, and societal impact