Staff Scientist

University of Chicago•Hyde Park, IL

About The Position

The Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago seeks a highly motivated Staff Scientist with expertise in designing automated laboratories for material discovery. The role works closely with University of Chicago faculty and researchers and supports the PoLARIS project, which aims to make advanced polymer research faster, more accessible, and more reproducible. PoLARIS connects AI, robotics, specialized instruments, and data infrastructure in a cloud laboratory that researchers can access remotely, in collaboration with researchers at the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory. The Staff Scientist facilitates advanced technical and scientific research, develops and maintains computational tools and automated platforms, supports experimental colleagues, and helps ensure research workflows produce transparent, high-quality data. The position also contributes to protocols, publications, intellectual property, personnel training, and the organization and maintenance of automated laboratory infrastructure.

Requirements

PhD in a related field.
Knowledge and skills developed through 2–5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Nice To Haves

Doctoral degree in chemistry, engineering, or a related field.
Postdoctoral experience and at least three years of significant work experience after the doctorate.
Experience in a research laboratory, preferably on an independent project.
Practical experience in data analysis, preferably through an independent project in an academic research laboratory setting.
Background in statistics and machine learning.
Strong computer skills, including calendaring, document management (such as Dropbox and Box), word processing, database management, and spreadsheets.
Knowledge of statistical or analytical software.
Advanced knowledge of computer programming and coding languages.
Excellent communication skills for interacting professionally with staff at all levels and external contacts in a fast-paced environment.
Excellent organization and time-management skills.
Demonstrated problem-solving, organization, and coordination skills.
Demonstrated excellent oral and written communication skills.
Ability to handle multiple concurrent tasks within deadlines with minimal supervision.
Ability to prioritize urgent tasks while meeting established deadlines.
Flexibility and adaptability to changes in workflow and procedures.

Responsibilities

Facilitate and promote advanced technical and scientific research projects, including automated workflows and data analysis.
Recognize opportunities for innovation and develop or incorporate advances in research concepts to help disseminate results.
Develop, apply, document, and maintain computational tools for use and to support experimental colleagues without formal automation training.
Develop customized automated platforms and methods to support new types of assays and experiments.
Understand the analytical needs of new experiments and work closely with wet-lab experimental biologists.
Implement and optimize algorithms and methods for sharing with the broader community.
Develop figures and reports that provide transparency into data quality and characteristics, and automate report production as part of routine workflow pipelines.
Report data to the supervisor and team; attend team meetings to share results and plan projects and experiments; and ensure projects support current team goals.
Maintain and organize automated hardware infrastructure and resources.
Contribute to the generation of protocols, publications, and intellectual property.
Review laboratory protocols and provide training on new techniques.
Manage complex research data sets.
Train new laboratory personnel.
Perform other related work as needed.