Research Associate V

Research Associate V

Company: Chenega Professional Services Strategic Business Unit

Location: Hagerstown, MD

Salary: $76,000 – $104,500 per annum

Come join a company that strives for Extraordinary People and Exceptional Performance! Chenega Professional & Technical Services, LLC., a Chenega Professional Services’ company, is looking for a Research Associate V. The Research Associate will assist in the development of and independently execute protocols adhering to the experimental design for biomarker verification as determined in collaboration with the respective project Lead/PI in a BSL-2, BSL-3, and BSL-4 environment.

Our company offers employees the opportunity to join a team where there is a robust employee benefits program, management engagement, quality leadership, an atmosphere of teamwork, recognition for performance, and promotion opportunities. We actively strive to channel our highly engaged employee’s knowledge, critical thinking, and determination to innovate scalable solutions for our clients.

• Perform experiments at BSL-2, BSL-3, and BSL-4 as required by the experimental design and respective organisms.
• Perform next generation sequencing, Nanostring immunological and inflammatory panels, Luminex-based platforms, miRNA quantification, as well as other molecular diagnostic techniques.
• Conduct experiments for detection of etiologic agents within animal and clinical samples.
• Perform laboratory work requiring expertise in small animal handling with associative trainings completed.
• Assist the Lead/PIs in preparation of technical reports and manuscripts for publication.
• Perform laboratory work required to fulfill experimental designs for novel sample collection/concentration/processing to include Nanotrap Concentration, and DNA/mRNA purification from both NHP and Human clinical matrices.
• Present protocols and data generated at weekly meetings as requested.
• Utilize biomarker expertise to identify unexpected or invalid results. Communicate and troubleshoot assay and instrument issues with the respective project Lead/PI.
• Perform experiments at BSL-2, BSL-3 and/or BSL-4 as required by the experimental design and respective organisms.
• CONUS/OCONUS travel may be required in support of the diagnostic mission and/or presentation of scientific research.
• Will work with appropriate Lead/PIs to establish and maintain responsibility of a biosample repository for biomarker evaluation and verification.
• Perform highly detailed clinical sample testing in support of priority BSL-2, BSL-3, and/or BSL-4 animal studies or human clinical sample surveillance studies.
• Train new laboratory members in BSL-2, BSL-3, and/or BSL-4 project-specific laboratory techniques and methods.
• Serve as the laboratory supervisor for assigned laboratory spaces to ensure the laboratory meets required safety, functionality, and stocking requirements.
• Consolidate and analyze biomarker data and repository metadata in support of technical reports, presentations, and manuscripts.
• Facilitate the planning, preparation, and laboratory research execution support of approximately 5-8 projects per year.
• Contribute to a Biomarker Quarter and Annual Reports for associate projects.
• Contribute to the collection, management, and analysis of Biomarker Data for assigned projects.
• Author, review and revise Biomarker SOPs as required to support assigned projects.

• Minimum of Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Immunology, Biology, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years lab experience.
• Must be experienced with handling both bacterial and viral pathogens for in vitro and in vivo studies with preferred experience in BSL-2, BSL-3 and BSL-4 biocontainment labs.
• Must be experienced with working with small animal models.
• Basic cell culture techniques performed under sterile conditions.
• Mastery of in vitro and in vivo microbiological techniques, specifically enzymatic assays, cell-based phenotypic and reporter assays, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and plaque assays.
• Experience with immunological procedures including ELISA, Western blot, and Mesoscale Discovery based assays.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Multi-task in a high paced environment.
• Works well with others.
• Prior experience in BSL-2, BSL-3, and BSL-4 biocontainment labs preferred.