Field Application Specialist

Field Applications Specialist (FAS) will be responsible for providing technical expertise on automated liquid handling platforms at JAX in Scientific Services' core labs. This position will partner with various core services members on projects to define requirements and processes, develop workflows, program instruments, write documentation, perform system validations, and provide basic operator training in conjunction with good laboratory practices. This position will assist with liquid handling technology evaluation, development, and implementation to support new liquid handling platforms and scale-up opportunities for current automated liquid handling platforms. This will include participating in the installation, configuration and operation of automation hardware and software. Long term applications support and troubleshooting for all supported automated liquid handling platforms is also required. These duties will include interacting with EHS, Facilities, Scientific Instrumentation Services, IT, Core Services, or Research Labs as necessary. Depending on location, the FAS will report to the Sr. Manager of Scientific Instrument Services in Bar Harbor or the Manager of Scientific Instrument Services in Farmington.

Key Responsibilities and Essential Functions:

• Collaborate with Scientific Services Core staff to understand, conceptualize, design, estimate costs, and assess the feasibility of implementing automation of complex scientific workflows. Develop, refine, and implement, and validate methods on automated liquid handling instruments to meet service cores' deliverables.
• Prepare and maintain high quality training materials, maintenance protocols, start-up procedures, and SOPs. Train Scientific Services Core staff on the operation and maintenance of automated liquid handling platforms. Maintain, repair, and replace system assemblies (pneumatics, electro- mechanical, communications, etc.) as needed.
• Provide ongoing applications & troubleshooting support to our Scientific Services and their liquid handlers. Learn to recognize problems and inefficiencies in lab processes and propose/implement improvements.
• Assist Instrument Technicians on the Scientific Instrumentation Services team as needed. Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Technical Background - B.S. degree in Scientific/Engineering/IT discipline
• Minimum 2 years' industrial/laboratory experience.
• Hands-on experience with automated liquid handling devices including requirements gathering and method development. Relevant experience with Tecan, Hamilton, Beckman Coulter, and/or PerkinElmer platforms is required
• Experience with using automated lab instruments in a high throughput screening, high content biology, genomics, cell culture, or research automation setting is required
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with appropriate detail with project members of all levels, vendors, and supervisors/managers
• Demonstrated aptitude for hands-on tasks and time management and the flexibility required to support several simultaneous automation projects
• Must possess a high level of initiative, creativity, willingness to learn, and the ability to work both independently and with a team to meet tasks and goals effectively.
• Must be comfortable in role as a subject matter expert and trainer; advising and training internal lab staff is critical.
• Ability to define problems and use root cause analysis to draw valid conclusions and make appropriate recommendations.
• Knowledge of computer applications, scripting, databases, and programming, e.g., SQL, VB.Net, Python, Jscript, C++, C#, is a plus
• Experience with other classes of laboratory equipment such as plate readers, high content imagers, biosafety hoods, incubators, centrifuges, and/or freezers
• A high level of proficiency in using computers (both Mac and PC) and various software packages, e.g., Word, Excel, Data Management Systems, etc., is required, Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) experience preferred.
• The FAS will occasionally need to travel to various JAX Sites (Bar Harbor ME, Sacramento CA, Ellsworth ME) for tasks that need to be completed onsite as well to vendor facilities for automation training.

Educational Requirements: Bachelor's Degree

Degree & Specialization Requirements: Scientific/Engineering/IT discipline

Experience Requirements: 2 to 4 years

Pay Range (Hourly): $29.14 - $37.89

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About JAX:

The Jackson Laboratory is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institution with a National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center and nearly 3,000 employees in locations across the United States (Maine, Connecticut, California),Japan andChina. Its mission is to discover precise genomic solutions for disease and empower the global biomedical community in the shared quest to improve human health.

Founded in 1929, JAX applies over nine decades of expertise in genetics to increase understanding of human disease, advancing treatments and cures for cancer, neurological and immune disorders, diabetes, aging and heart disease. It models and interprets genomic complexity, integrates basic research with clinical application, educates current and future scientists, and provides critical data, tools and services to the global biomedical community. For more information, please visitwww.jax.org.

EEO Statement:

The Jackson Laboratory provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, age, mental disability, physical disability, medical condition, gender, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, marital status, national origin, veteran status, and other classifications protected by applicable state and local non-discrimination laws.