Data Science Fellow — Organoid Biochemistry

Axle • Bethesda, MD

3d • $90,000 - $100,000

About The Position

Axle is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow to establish core protein-focused biochemical capabilities supporting organoid research. The role connects organoid phenotypes and optical measurements with molecular mechanisms and implements two complementary platforms: Amplicon/Protein Bead Display (APB-Display) for producing, screening, and quantitatively characterizing protein or nanobody libraries, and SMA/SMALP or related membrane-active-polymer workflows for extracting membrane proteins and associated lipids into native nanodiscs without detergents.

The Fellow will serve as the principal biochemical resource for two optical-methods postdoctoral researchers and work with a chemical-spectroscopy postdoc to investigate 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.

Requirements

• Doctoral degree (PhD) in biochemistry, molecular biology, chemical biology, protein chemistry, biophysics, bioengineering, cell biology, or a closely related field.
• 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 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 and in-vitro transcription/translation, SNAP-mediated protein capture, fluorescence measurements, FACS sorting, and sequencing readout.
• Develop focused nanobody and affinity-reagent libraries informed by in-silico design, biological targets, chemical-toxicity hypotheses, and researchers’ 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 with orthogonal assays such as fluorescence polarization, ELISA, pull-down or immunoprecipitation, biolayer interferometry, surface plasmon resonance, and size-exclusion chromatography.
• Establish SMA/SMALP and related membrane-active-polymer workflows in cell lines, organoid-derived cells, tissue preparations, and organoid models; optimize polymers and buffers and assess target-protein recovery while preserving native protein-lipid assemblies.
• Assess native nanodisc quality using 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 plasma 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 and troubleshoot biological variation in imaging or spectroscopy studies.
• Collaborate with optical-methods and chemical-spectroscopy researchers and prepare results for reports, presentations, and manuscripts.

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 for healthcare, parking reimbursement, dependent care assistance, and transportation reimbursement

What This Job Offers

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