Research Scientist - Applied Synthetic Chemist

BlueHalo, an AV Company, is seeking a Research Scientist to lead a research project dealing with the synthesis and characterization of nano- and microparticles for sensing applications. The researcher will design optical assays to detect and quantify biological contaminants in different matrices including water and soil and will extensively test and validate the technologies developed under this program. The work will be performed in the Air and Space Biosciences Division at the 711^th Human Performance Wing in the Air Force Research Laboratory in collaboration with the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine in the USAF School of Aerospace Medicine. The researcher will join a diverse team of scientists working in sensor development and will collaborate with researchers with expertise in public health, biology and nanotechnology.

Duties include but are not limited to nano- and micromaterials synthesis using standard methods and novel protocols that may require the use of air/moisture sensitive materials necessitating handling in inert atmospheres, preparation of hybrid/multifunctional materials involving biological components and their characterization using spectroscopic and optical techniques. The applicant will also design assays to detect and quantify different biological contaminants in water and soil matrices, focusing on rapid responses with minimal false positives and exploring different types of outputs including absorbance, fluorescence and others. The projects will focus on easy-to-deploy assay formats that take advantage of miniaturized and portable devices including smartphones and tablets.

Responsibilities:

• Perform metal nanoparticle and polymer microparticle synthesis and characterization.
• Develops assays for detection of different nucleic acid and small molecule targets.
• Synthesis of DNA complexes for fluorescence and colorimetric detection.
• Integration of developed assays in deployable formats.
• Mentor junior scientists and intern students.
• Write proposals for different funding agencies
• Present findings in progress meetings and conferences.

Qualifications:

• This position will work on a US Government facility and requites U.S. citizenship.
• PhD in chemistry, materials science or similar.
• One year of experience post graduate school leading a research project.
• Familiar with the research environment in the DOD.
• Extensive experience in materials synthesis.
• Proficiency in materials imaging and spectroscopy characterization.
• Experience designing DNA sequences for assay development.
• Expertise setting up reactions with air/moisture sensitive materials.
• Knowledge of nanomaterials functionalization chemistry.
• Proficiency in manuscript and report writing.
• Strong communication skills.
• Hands-on in a laboratory environment.