Background investigator Jobs in Aurora, CO

The laboratory of Dr. Derek Abbott, Chair of Immunology and Genomic Medicine at National Jewish Health, is seeking to recruit a highly motivated Postgraduate Scholar to work on projects on cell death mechanisms in inflammatory disease. Our laboratory has long-standing interests in determining how genetic variants functionally lead to inflammatory pathology with an emphasis on NLR signaling and cell death.

The successful applicant will join a vibrant, energetic lab and will have the freedom to explore independent ideas within the context of innate immunity and inflammation. A successful applicant will have strong tissue culture and molecular biology knowledge and experience working successfully in those systems.

Postgraduate Scholars in our lab are offered opportunities for academic career advancement through mentorship, writing, attending workshops, by presenting their work at national meetings and by seeking extramural funding. Successful applicants will have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in a relevant field, and quality publications in peer-reviewed journal.

Position Summary
The Postgraduate Research Scholar is a temporary, defined period of mentored advanced training. Postgraduate Research Scholars will focus on enhancing their professional skills and research independence under the mentorship of a Principal Investigator. The training program length is a maximum of five years.

Essential Duties

1. Performs, on a very independent basis, all phases of experimental investigations, including being responsible to the Principal Investigator in the planning, developing, operating, recording, collaborating, and reporting of major projects.
2. Collaborates with Principal Investigators and senior researchers in the progress of major research projects.
3. Provides guidance to laboratory staff in one or more laboratory areas, including technicians, support, and auxiliary staff. Performs as the technical advisor on techniques involving complex analyses utilizing highly sophisticated techniques. Serves as primary contact with researcher staff for technical services on major techniques, recording devices, and statistical procedures relative to the specifically assigned field.
4. Reviews quality control of new or modified laboratory techniques that affect any part of major projects.
5. Performs routine and non-routine tests leading to the successful completion of developed experiments. Knows and follows age-specific guidelines.

Other Duties
Performs as a back-up to staff absences and vacancies, as necessary.

Competencies

1. Accountability: Accepts full responsibility for self and contribution as a team member; displays honesty and truthfulness; confronts problems quickly; displays a strong commitment to organizational success and inspires others to commit to goals; demonstrates a commitment to National Jewish Health.
2. Laboratory Knowledge: Demonstrates and understands laboratory testing and methodology.
3. Decision Quality: Makes good decisions based upon a mixture of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgement. Sought out by others for advice and solutions.
4. Adaptability: Maintains effectiveness in the midst of change in work responsibilities or environment, requirements ambiguity, or stress.
5. Problem Solving: Uses issue identification, data relation and comparison, pattern recognition and information gathering to create analyses and make recommendations.
6. Informing/Communicating: Conveys ideas, responses, or instructions effectively, appropriately, and persuasively through writing or speech.
7. Professional Relationships: Interacts with others in a constructive, positive, and respectful manner, regardless of individual differences. Assists team members or co-workers in achieving personal goals and completing assignments.
8. Drive for Excellence: Consistently meets performance expectations, ensures that accurate, objective, and timely measures of quality are made and used.
9. Innovation Management: Identifies key trends, opportunities, and organizational capabilities that would bring competitive advantage to the organization. Sees trends before others and integrates concepts in a unique way.

Supervisory or Managerial Responsibility
None

Travel
None

Core Values

1. Be available to work as scheduled and report to work on time.
2. Be willing to accept supervision and work well with others.
3. Be well groomed, appropriately for your role and wear ID Badge visibly.
4. Be in compliance with all departmental and institutional policies, the Employee Handbook, Code of Conduct and completes NetLearning by due date annually.
5. Promotes a workplace culture based on mutual respect and merit, where all individuals are treated fairly and provided with equal opportunity to contribute to the mission and goals of the institution.
6. Adheres to safe working practices and at all times follows all institutional and departmental safety policies and procedures.
7. Wears appropriate PPE as outlined by the infection control policies and procedures.
8. Demonstrates compliance with all state, federal and all other regulatory agency requirements.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Education: MD or PhD in biology, chemistry or other basic sciences required.
2. Work Experience: A minimum of three years of specified experience in technical investigatory techniques during graduate or doctoral training program.
3. Special Training, Certification or Licensure: None

Salary Range: $61,008 - $74,088

Benefits
At National Jewish Health, we recognize that our outstanding faculty and staff are the essence of our organization. For every aspect of health care, our employees are our greatest asset. With that in mind, we have designed a valuable, comprehensive benefits package to meet the needs of our employees and their families.

• Comprehensive Medical Coverage: Multiple Cigna health plans for Colorado, regional office and remote employees. Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) available to pair with some plans.
• Paid Time Off: Generous PTO accruals to use for vacation and sick days, and six paid holidays, all compliant with Colorado state sick leave regulations.
• Dental & Vision Plans: Coverage effective the first of the month after hire.
• Retirement Savings: 403(b) plan with employer contributions after two years.
• Wellness Incentives: Earn up to $200 annually for preventive health activities.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Up to $5,250 annually for full-time and part-time employees.
• Child Care Assistance: Childcare Flex Spending Account (FSA) with annual employer contribution.
• Loan Forgiveness: Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer.
• Disability & Life Insurance: Employer-paid plans and optional buy-up choices.
• Voluntary Benefits: Full suite of coverage options such as Accident, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Plan
• Exclusive Discounts: Savings on local services, insurance, and RTD bus passes.