Microbiologist III; Diagnostic Microbiology Services

Overview

Goldbelt Professional Services specializes in providing expert resources for Public Health missions including scientific, technical, and administrative support from junior staff to high-level subject matter experts. Research and data driven, Goldbelt Professional Services' experts create solutions customized to the client’s needs.

As a Microbiologist III the candidate shall perform specified portions of scientific work involving studies of immune responses after vaccination, humoral and cellular immune responses, biological activities, and/or processes of viruses, humans, and animals, and their component parts.

Essential Job Functions:

• Perform virus diagnostic testing, including DFA (Direct Fluorescent Antibody test), RFFIT (Rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test), and other assays for either confirmation or screening.
• Perform research activities to improve, enhance or develop new diagnostic assay developments with the incorporation of advanced technologies
• Train other members of the laboratory or external laboratory researchers with diagnostic assays
• Participate in branch international research activities to evaluate laboratory capabilities, Procure equipment and reagents for diagnostic assays, and train laboratory personnel in virus diagnostic assays
• Participate in and lead animal studies in which animals are inoculated with viruses.
• Lead and participate in studies performed in the BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratories as they relate to immunology and protein-based diagnostics or as needed.
• Maintaining detailed laboratory records of activities, including documentation fitting for submission of results for peer-reviewed publications.
• Maintaining cell lines, virus variants, and other reagents required for the performance of research activities.
• Assist with ordering reagents and maintenance of laboratory space for conducting research activities
• Propagating and purifying viruses for use in assays for validation of diagnostic assays and investigative purposes.
• Performing nucleic acid extractions on animal samples known or potentially infected with zoonotic agents, including rabies virus and orthopoxvirus species
• Maintenance and consolidation of all records as related to historical viruses, and investigation of all reagents produced during these studies.
• Analyzing data relevant to laboratory investigations as well as outbreak response efforts.
• Effectively communicate research activities through presentations in lab, team, and branch meetings.
• Presentation of works in national/international conferences and preparation of manuscripts and research articles for publication.

Necessary Skills and Knowledge:

• Working knowledge of virology, immunology, molecular biology, serology, and diagnostic microbiology applicable to viral diseases and vaccine-related immune responses.
• Hands-on experience performing viral diagnostic assays, including fluorescent antibody, neutralization, serologic, immunologic, or comparable confirmatory and screening methods.
• Experience supporting assay development, optimization, validation, and implementation of new diagnostic or immunologic technologies.
• Ability to conduct laboratory studies in BSL-2 and/or BSL-3 environments while following established biosafety, biosecurity, quality, and contamination-control procedures.
• Experience with cell culture, maintenance of cell lines and viral stocks, and propagation and purification of viruses for diagnostic or research purposes.
• Working knowledge of humoral and cellular immune response testing and laboratory methods used to evaluate vaccine or infection-related immune responses.
• Ability to support or participate in animal studies involving viral challenge or inoculation and to process associated specimens in…