Data Science Fellow — Organoid Biochemistry

Axle • Bethesda, MD

3d

About The Position

Axle is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow to establish the laboratory’s core capacity for protein-focused biological support, linking organoid phenotypes and optical measurements to molecular mechanisms. The Fellow will implement two complementary platforms: Amplicon/Protein Bead Display (APB-Display) for producing, screening, and characterizing protein or nanobody libraries, and SMA/SMALP or related membrane-active-polymer workflows for detergent-free extraction of membrane proteins and associated lipids into native nanodiscs.

The position is the principal biochemical resource for two optical-methods postdoctoral researchers and collaborates with a chemical-spectroscopy postdoctoral researcher on toxicant-induced changes in proteins, membranes, and lipid environments. The appointment is intended to prepare the Fellow for an independent research career in academia, government, or industry. The role includes developing laboratory methods and workflows, validating protein interactions, supporting organoid research, documenting procedures, and training team members.

Requirements

• Doctoral degree (PhD) in biochemistry, molecular biology, chemical biology, protein chemistry, biophysics, bioengineering, cell biology, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience in recombinant protein expression and purification, molecular cloning, quantitative binding assays, or protein-interaction analysis.
• Strong understanding of protein structure-function relationships, membrane biology, assay controls, and quantitative experimental design.
• Ability to work with mammalian cells or complex biological samples and collaborate with imaging, spectroscopy, toxicology, computational, and core-facility teams.
• Ability to document methods rigorously, analyze data using Python, R, MATLAB, or comparable tools, and communicate results through reports, presentations, and manuscripts.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with nanobodies, antibody engineering, display technologies, pooled libraries, FACS, next-generation sequencing, cell-free protein synthesis, microfluidics, or hydrogel beads.
• Experience with styrene-maleic-acid polymers, SMALPs, native nanodiscs, membrane-protein purification, lipidomics, quantitative proteomics, mass spectrometry, or electron microscopy sample preparation.
• Experience with organoids, stem-cell-derived models, toxicology, chemical exposures, fluorescence imaging, or multi-omics integration.
• A strong record of method development, troubleshooting, collaborative publications, and independent experimental execution.

Responsibilities

• Establish routine molecular-biology, protein-expression, purification, conjugation, and biochemical-assay support for organoid projects, including recombinant protein and nanobody production in appropriate expression systems.
• Implement APB-Display using dual-functional hydrogel beads, pooled DNA libraries, particle-templated emulsification, emulsion PCR, emulsion in-vitro transcription/translation, SNAP-mediated protein capture, fluorescence measurements, FACS sorting, and sequencing-based readout.
• Develop focused nanobody and affinity-reagent libraries informed by in-silico design, biological targets, chemical-toxicity hypotheses, and research-team needs.
• Implement APB-SortSeq and APB-TiteSeq screening, and establish controls for genotype-phenotype linkage, nonspecific binding, ligand depletion, bead occupancy, and sequencing representation.
• Validate selected binders and interaction measurements using orthogonal assays such as fluorescence polarization, ELISA, pull-down/immunoprecipitation, biolayer interferometry, surface plasmon resonance, and size-exclusion chromatography.
• Establish SMA/SMALP and related membrane-active-polymer workflows in relevant cell lines, organoid-derived cells, tissue preparations, and organoid models.
• Optimize polymer and buffer conditions using fluorescence-based bulk-solubilization assays and target-protein-specific recovery measurements to preserve native protein-lipid assemblies.
• Apply quality-control methods for native nanodiscs, including fluorescence measurements, dynamic light scattering, size-exclusion chromatography, negative-stain electron microscopy through a core facility, gel-based analysis, and mass-spectrometry-compatible preparation.
• Coordinate targeted extraction and affinity enrichment of membrane proteins and complexes from cellular and organellar membranes, preserving samples for proteomic, lipidomic, functional, structural, and electron-tomography follow-up.
• Develop nanobody-enabled labeling, concentration, purification, and perturbation workflows for organoid imaging, membrane-complex analysis, and potential countermeasure applications.
• Create version-controlled SOPs, reagent inventories, assay acceptance criteria, sample metadata, and training modules.
• Cross-train team members in routine biochemical procedures and troubleshoot biological variation in imaging or spectroscopy studies.

Benefits

• 100% medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• 401(k) match up to 5%
• Educational benefits for career growth
• Employee referral bonus
• Flexible spending accounts: healthcare (FSA), dependent care assistant program (DCAP), and transportation reimbursement account (TRN)
• Parking reimbursement account (PRK)

What This Job Offers

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