Research Assoc III, Molecular Biology/Immunology in United States of America

Description

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION         

The Frederick National Laboratory is a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and operated by Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc.  The lab addresses some of the most urgent and intractable problems in the biomedical sciences in cancer and AIDS, drug development and first-in-human clinical trials, applications of nanotechnology in medicine, and rapid response to emerging threats of infectious diseases.

The Vaccine, Immunity, and Cancer Directorate (VICD) at the Frederick National Laboratory has a primary mission to provide scientific leadership and laboratory infrastructure to study immune responses to Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines and other cancer preventive strategies in the context of clinical and pre-clinical studies. More recently, VICD is also leading initiatives on SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccines.

Our core values of accountability, compassion, collaboration, dedication, integrity, and versatility serve as a guidepost for how we do our work every day in serving the public's interest.  

KEY ROLES/RESPONSIBILITIES

We are seeking an individual with a strong background in molecular biology and immunology to work at the COVID Serology Laboratory to lead projects in the area of vaccine immunogenicity.  The aim of this project is to generate standardized sets of reagents, develop assays for assessment of antibody responses to HPV and conduct high throughput immunogenicity testing of vaccines in the context of clinical trials.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Oversee serology projects from conception to execution.
• Responsible for sample management.
• Optimize and validate procedures and methodologies for assessment of immune responses to infection and vaccines.
• Plan experiments and lead testing of large number of samples from clinical studies.
• Design and implement protocols, as well as troubleshoot assays and experiments independently.
• Evaluate, analyze and compile data, maintain databases.
• Responsible for routine QC QA procedures, ordering supplies, and maintaining equipment and inventories.
• Prepare reports, present data and participate in report and proposal preparation.
• Remain current on literature and relevant laboratory techniques.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

To be considered for this position, you must minimally meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below: 

• Possession of a (CHEA) Bachelor's degree in immunology, vaccinology, or molecular biology from an accredited college/university according to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education). Foreign degrees must be evaluated for U.S. equivalency.
• Minimum of (8) eight years of related biomedical laboratory experience.
• Detailed knowledge of vaccines, immunology, and virology.
• Expertise in tissue culture and immunological/virologic techniques, including aseptic techniques, cell line maintenance, production of plasmids and virus-like particles, western-blot, ELISA, Luminex assays, flow cytometry, virus neutralization assays and PCR.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates with these desired skills will be given preferential consideration:  

• (CHEA) MS in immunology, vaccinology, virology or molecular biology.
• Experience in immune assay (ELISA, multiplex assays) development and validation under GCLP or GLP environment.
• Experience handling large data sets, statistics, software tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Experience in laboratories operating under GCLP/GMP/GLP/CLIA.
• Experience using robotics.
• Experience with electronic documentation systems and LIMS.
  

JOB HAZARDS OR REQUIREMENTS

• Work may involve the use of potentially hazardous chemical or biological materials or may be located in areas where such materials are used.  
• This position is subject to working with or have potential for exposure to infectious material, requiring
  medical clearance and immunizations.