Biological Scientist

The Biological Scientist will independently provide support services to satisfy the overall operational objectives of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The primary objective is to provide services and deliverables through the performance of support services.

The statements contained in this job description reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required, and the scope of responsibility. It should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Employee may perform other duties as assigned, including work in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods or otherwise to balance the workload.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Provides technical experience needed to assist in studying the basic principles of plant and animal life
• Plan and administer biological research programs
• Study basic principles of plant and animal life, such as origin, relationship, development, anatomy, and function
• Assists with performing basic laboratory experiments and procedures
• Collect and analyze biological data about relationships among and between organisms and their environment
• Supervise biological technicians and technologists and other scientists
• Monitor and observe experiments, recording production and test data for evaluation by research personnel
• Analyze experimental data and interpret results to write reports and summaries of findings
• Prepares, organizes and maintains various lab samples, supplies, and equipment
• Operate, calibrate, or maintain equipment used in quantitative or qualitative analysis, such as spectrophotometers, calorimeters, flame photometers, or computer-controlled analyzers
• Maintain laboratory equipment
• Operate laboratory equipment to analyze samples
• Analyze laboratory findings
• Learns new laboratory techniques and procedures
• Program and use computers to store, process, and analyze data
• Monitor operational procedures in technical environments to ensure conformance to standards
• Interpret research or operational data
• Record research or operational data
• Formulate research goals in the context of the overall laboratory research program.
• Plan and conduct appropriate experiments to achieve the research goals of the program.
• Independently perform a variety of experimental procedures to investigate glucose and energy metabolism in mice including indirect calorimetry, analysis of body composition, temperature telemetry, isolation of mouse islets, collection of blood and tissues from mice, calorimetric and radioimmuno assays.
• Perform euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamps studies in mice.
• Establish new protocols and optimize existing protocols for studying various aspects of glucose and lipid metabolism.
• Calibrate and operate a variety of laboratory instruments used to perform in vivo tests and other laboratory procedures.
• Record and analyze the data in laboratory notebooks and databases; interpret the data, identify and troubleshoot problems that may arise.
• Keep accurate animal records on on-going research projects.
• Prepare weekly updates on on-going experiments and tasks.
• Perform literature searches and contribute to collaborative projects with other laboratories and departments.
• Participate and collaborate in the preparation of scientific publications based on the obtained results.
• Prepare oral and written presentations of studies for both internal and external use.
• Train post-doctoral fellows and other research staff in the specialized techniques used in the laboratory