Therapeutics Research Scientist

Therapeutics Research Scientist - (7956) Core Duties

• Serve as a Lead Investigator and conduct basic and translational research on specified bacterial and viral threats, in support of the BD and infectious disease program, working in BSL-3 laboratories; must hold and maintain Biological Personnel Reliability Program (BPRP) status in accordance with contract and applicable regulations
• Serve as Lead Investigator of animal protocols, responsible for writing, planning, and executing animal protocols to evaluate therapeutics for tolerability, pharmacokinetic, and in vivo efficacy studies
• Serve as a liaison between the research team, Veterinary Medicine group, and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
• Conduct in vivo studies to better understand bacterial and viral pathogenesis and design and evaluate vaccines and therapeutics. Pathogens will include multi-drug-resistant bacteria and BD BSL-3 pathogens
• Perform experiments to determine bacterial load and host immune responses, measuring cytokine and antibody levels
• Assist in high-throughput screening assays for the antibacterial and antiviral projects and develop novel assays for screening
• Construct mutant bacterial and viral strains and perform phenotypic characterization using in vitro (growth kinetics, intracellular growth within macrophages) and in vivo methods (e.g., LD50 studies, infection studies)
• Present research findings at monthly lab meetings and attend biweekly scientific discussion meetings
• Maintain an orderly laboratory environment in compliance with regulations
• Coordinate ordering of supplies to support research efforts with division staff
• Assist in training new personnel, including students and other technicians, and mentor junior scientists
• Communicate experimental data and work-related issues to the appropriate point of contact (POC)
• Communicate with vendors for technical support and troubleshooting laboratory equipment
• Assist in the preparation of technical reports, standard operating procedures, and manuscripts
• Write manuscripts and present research findings at least one scientific conference per year, presenting results in written and oral format publicly and internally
• Prepare and provide the technical POC (TPOC) a Therapeutics Research Scientific Support progress report no later than the last day of each month
• Collaborate with USAMRIID leadership to author or coauthor research proposals, solicitations, and other vehicles to secure financial support for USAMRIID mission objectives, including responding to service calls from government sponsors (e.g., Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA))
• Assist in preparing technical reports, standard operating procedures, and manuscripts related to research efforts; may be expected to present at two scientific conferences per year
• BPRP enrollment is required and will be maintained IAW contract provisions and applicable regulations

0 - 10%

• Extensive experience working with mouse models of bacterial and viral infection and understanding bacterial and viral pathogenesis
• Must be a U.S. citizen with a valid U.S. passport
• Must have authorization to work in the United States as defined by the Immigration Reform Act of 1986