Research Associate I or II - Virology, Immunology

Job ID: req4044

Employee Type: exempt full-time

Division: Vaccine, Immunity and Cancer

Facility: Frederick: ATRF

Location: 8560 Progress Dr, Frederick, MD 21701 USA

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.

Accountability, Compassion, Collaboration, Dedication, Integrity and Versatility; it's the FNL way.

Program Description

The Vaccine, Immunity and Cancer Directorate investigates immune responses to vaccines in preclinical and clinical studies, with a focus on HPV and more recently on SARS-CoV-2. As part of a large effort to combat the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is collaborating with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Frederick National Laboratory (FNL) and other stakeholders to develop assays with the highest reproducibility, sensitivity, and specificity for evaluation of immune responses against this new virus. To address gaps and unmet needs in serology assay development and standardization and to gain a solid fundamental knowledge of the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 and underlying mechanisms of protection against infection, NCI has established the Serological Sciences Network (SeroNet), which includes the Frederick National Laboratory (FNL) Serology Lab, leveraging the vast expertise and excellence in HPV serology at the FNL.

The Center of Excellence for Serology Development and Emergency Preparedness (CESDEP) is a new program to provide both a more targeted and global response to the evolution of SARS-CoV-2, requiring innovative thinking, outreach and partnership with global leaders. CESDEP will leverage and deploy the knowledge from existing program to bring high quality, precision biomarker assays to the cancer and HIV clinics to help combat SARS-CoV-2 in those most vulnerable.

Key Roles/Responsibilities

The Research Associate will:

• Be responsible for sample management
• Optimize and validate procedures and methodologies for assessment of immune responses to infections and vaccines
• Plan experiments and conduct testing of large number of samples from clinical studies
• With limited supervision, design and implement protocols, as well as troubleshoot assays and experiments independently
• Evaluate, analyze and compile data, maintain databases
• Be 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
• Other duties as assigned
  
  
  

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

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

• Possession of a Bachelor's degree in immunology, molecular biology, biology, or other relevant studies from an accredited college/university according to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or four (4) years relevant experience in lieu of degree. Foreign degrees must be evaluated for U.S. equivalency
• In addition to the education requirement:
• Research Associate I - A minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible experience
• Research Associate II - A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience
• Detailed knowledge of vaccines, immunology, and virology
• Expertise in tissue culture and immunological/virological 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
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates with these desired skills will be given preferential consideration:

• Master’s degree in relevant studies
• Experience in standard tissue culture and immunological/virological techniques, including: aseptic techniques, cell line maintenance, production of plasmids and virus-like particles, western-blot, ELISA, Luminex assays, virus neutralization assays and PCR
• Experience in immune assay (ELISA, multiplex assays) development and validation
• 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

• Work may involve the use of potentially hazardous chemical or biological materials or may be located in areas where such materials are used.
  
  
  

Commitment to Diversity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.

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