Company:
Fluidion US is an innovative high-technology company providing autonomous in-situ sampling and measurement solutions for environmental monitoring and water quality applications: sample collection, chemical measurements, microbiological analysis.
Fluidion addresses the pollution monitoring and water quality markets, from the urban setting (drinking water, wastewater, combined sewer overflow monitoring) to the natural environment (beach monitoring, lakes, rivers, coastal waters and ocean waters), to large industrial sites.
Fluidion US develops latest-generation miniaturized sensors and robotic systems and is emerging as a leader in the water quality sensor industry with a range of innovative rapid microbiology instruments, specialized chemical sensors, and an aquatic water quality drone.
Fluidion US holds high-level expertise in water quality instrumentation, microfluidic sensors, low-power electronics, and wireless telemetry.
The company works with a wide panel of private and public utilities and was awarded several government contracts and grants (NSF, USDA, DoE).
It is looking to reinforce its team based in downtown Los Angeles, CA, and is currently proposing exciting engineering, scientific and sales positions.
Job summary:
The R&D Scientist position in Molecular Biology involves developing, evaluating and implementing novel nucleic acid quantification methods for environmental and wastewater samples.
It requires a dynamic and resourceful individual with a set of interests and skills that spans multiple disciplines, and with specific laboratory training, know-how and practical experience.
Some of the job responsibilities (non-exhaustive):
– Implement established environmental RNA and DNA extraction and quantification protocols using information published in scientific literature and standard laboratory equipment
– Design and optimize new protocols based on (RT-)qPCR and (RT-)LAMP techniques
– Engineer test plans, validation and calibrations procedures for newly developed protocols against established methods
– Assist in the design, testing and validation of new instruments and sensors (both in laboratory and field settings)
– Collect and analyze data using appropriate software and scripts (commercial and custom-made)
– Assist with identification and purchasing of critical laboratory equipment
– Collaborate with Fluidion team and clients, in the USA and in Europe
– Perform bibliographic research and state-of-the-art discovery
– Prepare scientific communications and reports, documentation, client notes
– Practice safe work habits, including complying with all safety, health, and environment rules and regulations
Requirements:
The successful candidate should be a self-starter, with good technical knowledge base in Molecular Biology and prior experience in nucleic acid extraction, amplification and quantification from complex samples.
The job will require excellent scientific background, autonomy, versatility, as well as the ability to manage a growing project team.
The work location will be downtown Los Angeles (Arts District).
The position may require some degree of local/national travel and occasional international trips (Europe, Canada) for client and collaborator meetings or conferences.
Qualifications:
– Highly motivated individual with a Ph.D.
degree in Molecular Biology or related fields (highly qualified individuals with a Master’s degree will also be considered)
– High degree of autonomy and proactive attitude
– Analytical skills
– Extensive laboratory experience, including all basic nucleic acid extraction, amplification and quantification techniques, with intimate theoretical knowledge and practical experience in optimizing reaction conditions and iterative troubleshooting
– Ability to communicate results and present technical information orally and in writing
– Ability to integrate in a team and collaborate with local as well as remote team members
– Attention to detail and excellent organization skills
– Prior experience with LAMP techniques and LAMP primer design is a plus
– Prior experience with ddPCR equipment is a plus
– Experience with data exploration using Python or Matlab is a plus
Job Requirements:
– Implement established environmental RNA and DNA extraction and quantification protocols using information published in scientific literature and standard laboratory equipment
– Design and optimize new protocols based on (RT-)qPCR and (RT-)LAMP techniques
– Engineer test plans, validation and calibrations procedures for newly developed protocols against established methods
– Assist in the design, testing and validation of new instruments and sensors (both in laboratory and field settings)
– Collect and analyze data using appropriate software and scripts (commercial and custom-made)
– Assist with identification and purchasing of critical laboratory equipment
– Collaborate with Fluidion team and clients, in the USA and in Europe
– Perform bibliographic research and state-of-the-art discovery
– Prepare scientific communications and reports, documentation, client notes
– Practice safe work habits, including complying with all safety, health, and environment rules and regulations