What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant Principal Investigator, Aerobiology (#1855) position at Battelle National Biodefense Inst?
Job Description
Job Description
BACKGROUND
The National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) is a one-of-a-kind facility located on Fort Detrick in Frederick MD and is dedicated to defending the nation against biological threats. Its work supports DHS and National biodefense preparedness planning, response, emerging threat characterization and bioforensic analyses. It is the first national laboratory created by DHS in response to biodefense gaps identified following the Amerithrax attacks of 2001 and has been operated by the Battelle National Biodefense Institute (BNBI) since 2006. Since its inception, NBACC and its staff have filled critical shortfalls in our scientific knowledge of biological agents needed to protect the public and defend the Nation from biological threats, whether naturally occurring, accidental, or deliberate and provided federal law enforcement with scientific data to support the investigation and attribution of biocrimes and protection of the US bioeconomy.
NBACC includes two centers : the National Bioforensic Analysis Center (NBFAC), which conducts the technical analyses in support of federal law enforcement investigations, and the National Biological Threat Characterization Center (NBTCC), which conducts experiments and studies to obtain data required for a better understanding of biological vulnerabilities and hazards. Together these centers offer a unique national resource for understanding the risks posed by biological agents and emerging technologies to inform biodefense policy and response planning and the operational capability to support the investigation, prosecution, and prevention of biocrimes and bioterrorism.
PRIMARY FUNCTION
As part of the NBACC Aerobiology Team, the Assistant Principal Investigator works with an interdisciplinary team of scientists in the NBTCC to conduct research focused on understanding factors influencing airborne transmission and mitigating the hazard associated with biological aerosols.
Research is performed within state-of-the art biocontainment laboratories (BSL-2 through BSL-4) and spans a range of topics, including assessment of the performance of aerosol generation and sampling equipment, including aerosol particle size measurement; characterization of the physicochemical and pathogenic properties of infectious biological aerosols to inform transport and dispersion modeling; inhalation toxicology and exposure assessment; and evaluation of medical countermeasure efficacy in animal models of disease, including respiratory drug delivery.
MINIMUM REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Requires a PhD (or equivalent) in a scientific discipline or engineering, and 0-4 years of related experience; may include post-doctoral experience.
- Relevant experience in ANY of the following :
o Operation of equipment for aerosol generation and characterization, including particle size measurement.
o Assessment of the performance of aerosol sampling equipment and methodologies.
o Assessment of decay of microorganisms in aerosols using rotating drum chambers or similar methodologies.
o Inhalation toxicology, including conducting inhalation exposures in animal models of disease and characterization of disease presentation post-exposure.
o Medical countermeasure evaluation, including preparation / characterization of vaccines / therapeutics for respiratory delivery.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
BNBI is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.
