Lead Scientist, Organoid Initiative

University of Colorado•Aurora, CO

8d•$77,000 - $86,000•Onsite

About The Position

We are recruiting a Leading Scientist focused on automation, workflow engineering, and data integration. This individual will support the platform’s clinical and translational mission by overseeing automated high throughput screening systems, mini-ring organoid assays, imaging and data acquisition workflows, and structured data handoff to analysis teams. This role works independently and in close partnership with the CCPM Director of the Functional Personalized Medicine Initiative, platform leadership, automation engineers, and computational or bioinformatics groups. The ideal candidate brings experience with automation, plate-based assays, and technology-enabled biology to drive maturity, throughput, quality, and reproducibility across the platform.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Bioengineering, Biology, Biochemistry, or a related field from an accredited institution
3-5 years of experience in molecular biology and translational research
Experience with automated laboratory systems, plate-based assays, or high throughput screening.
At least one year of experience with mini-ring 3D organoid platform.
Experience with cell-based workflows, imaging, or clinical sample–derived cultures.
Ability to operate independently in a fast-moving, interdisciplinary setting.
Ability to communicate effectively, both in writing and orally.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees at all levels throughout the institution.
Outstanding customer service skills.

Nice To Haves

PhD in Bioengineering, Biology, Biochemistry, or a related field.
Exposure to interfaces with data infrastructure, analysis pipelines, or LIMS-like systems.
Experience troubleshooting automation protocols, hardware integration, or workflow orchestration
Prior work with patient-derived samples or translational precision medicine programs

Responsibilities

Lead development, optimization, and execution of automated workflows including mini-ring organoid screening, liquid handling, high-content imaging, and integrated scheduling systems.
Configure and validate automation assets (liquid handlers, incubators, imagers, tracs, scheduling software) to ensure precision, throughput, and reproducibility.
Translate biological assay needs, including mini-ring–based workflows, into executable automation protocols with defined QC checkpoints and error handling.
Identify bottlenecks or technical issues and implement improvements to drive operational maturity.
Define metadata standards, file structures, and transfer pipelines to ensure data flows cleanly to analytics and bioinformatics groups.
Oversee interface between automation systems, internal tracking tools or LIMS elements, and downstream analysis workflows.
Support reporting structures aligned with clinical translation, decision support, and research endpoints.
Coordinate instrument access and workflow timing with the scientist responsible for sample flow and personnel oversight.
Work alongside software engineers to refine workflow orchestration, instrument integration, and file delivery standards.
Act as point of contact for vendor interactions, onboarding of new automation assets, and technical support.
Provide feedback to computational teams on data quality, edge cases, and instrumentation-driven variability.
Develop SOPs, troubleshooting guides, and runbooks for automated operations and mini-ring workflows.
Train laboratory personnel on equipment use, automation operation, and QC procedures.
Contribute to capability statements, grant text, platform manuscripts, and programmatic documentation for the Director of FPM.
Evaluate new technologies and implement strategic upgrades to expand throughput or analytical depth.