Research Associate - VICD

Overview

Job

Employee Type: exempt full-time

Division:
Vaccine, Immunity and Cancer Directorate

Facility:
Frederick: ATRF

Location:

8560 Progress Dr, Frederick, MD 21701 USA

The Frederick National Laboratory is 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.

The Vaccine, Immunity and Cancer Directorate (VICD) has a primary mission to provide scientific leadership and laboratory infrastructure to study immune responses to Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines and other cancer preventive strategies in the context of preclinical and clinical studies. As of recent and part of a large effort, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the Frederick National Laboratory (FNL) and other stakeholders are developing vaccines with durable protection for seasonal influenza virus.

VICD is leading the development of immunoassays with the highest reproducibility, sensitivity, and specificity for evaluation of immune responses against the virus and vaccine. VICD is recruiting for a Research Associate I to work in a fast-paced, high impact laboratory within an internationally recognized research directorate. The Vaccine, Immunity, and Cancer Directorate (VICD) at the Frederick National Laboratory has a primary mission to provide scientific leadership and laboratory infrastructure to study immune responses to Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines and other cancer preventive strategies in the context of clinical and pre-clinical studies.

The aim of this project is to generate standardized sets of reagents, develop assays for assessment of antibody responses to HPV and conduct high throughput immunogenicity testing of vaccines in the context of clinical trials, under the Good Clinical Laboratory Practices. This position is primarily in the laboratory conducting testing and onsite activities.

The Research Associate will perform laboratory activities including sample management, reagent prep, conducting testing and troubleshooting, analyze data, supply ordering and other related activities as follows:

• Responsible for sample management and inventory
• 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, and maintain databases
• Responsible for routine QC/QA procedures, ordering supplies, and maintaining equipment and inventories
• Prepare reports, present data and participate in report and proposal preparation
• Contribute or write SOPs or protocols in Master Control
• Use and support Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)
• Remain current on literature and relevant laboratory techniques
• Other duties as assigned

• Possession of a Bachelor's degree in Medical Technology or Virology, Molecular Biology, Microbiology, particularly in Immunology and Virology from an accredited college/university according to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education). Foreign degrees must be evaluated for U.S. equivalency
• In addition to the education requirement, a minimum of 2 years of relevant laboratory experience
• Detailed knowledge of vaccines, immunology, and virology
• Demonstrated experience in cellular and molecular biological techniques, including tissue culture, aseptic techniques, cell line maintenance, production of plasmids and virus-like particles, western blot, ELISA, virus neutralizing assays, plaque assays, and PCR
• Demonstrated benchwork with precision and accuracy
• Familiar with LIMS and Master Control (or other…