Senior Research Scientist - Genomics and Infectious Diseases

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Parsons is seeking a Senior Research Scientist - Genomics and Infectious Diseases to support the Biological Defense Research Directorate within the Naval Medical Research Command at Fort Detrick, Maryland. This key-personnel position will provide senior scientific leadership for research involving genomics, molecular biology, infectious diseases, biosurveillance, pathogen characterization, and whole-genome sequencing.

The successful candidate will help guide multidisciplinary research supporting U.S. biodefense, force health protection, emerging-pathogen detection, pandemic preparedness, and the development of analytical methods. The position will also support the management of scientific personnel and research resources while preserving the Government's authority over inherently governmental decisions.

• Lead basic and applied research involving molecular biology, genomics, microbiology, virology, and emerging infectious diseases.
• Design scientifically rigorous studies, experimental methods, and analytical approaches supporting pathogen detection and characterization.
• Provide senior technical direction for whole-genome sequencing and related laboratory and analytical activities.
• Support genomics and metagenomics studies involving pathogens, near neighbors, bacteriophages, and complex samples.
• Guide the development and improvement of wet-laboratory and bioinformatics protocols.
• Review scientific data, resolve technical issues, and ensure research methods produce accurate and reproducible results.
• Support epidemic, pandemic, and emerging-threat research and response activities.
• Train and mentor contractor scientists, technicians, and support personnel.
• Coordinate contractor research activities, budgets, supplies, equipment, and laboratory inventories, subject to Government approval.
• Prepare or review scientific reports, protocols, manuscripts, presentations, and funding-support materials.
• Collaborate with Government personnel and CONUS and OCONUS laboratory partners.
• Travel domestically and internationally, including to potentially austere or resource‑limited environments.

• Ph.D. in molecular biology, biology, microbiology, virology, emerging infectious diseases, biochemistry, or a closely related field.
• Practical postdoctoral research experience in virology and bacteriology.
• At least 10 years of extensive, demonstrable experience in molecular biology or genomics.
• Demonstrated knowledge of basic and applied research, experimental design, and scientific methods.
• Demonstrated ability to perform original, competent research, including whole-genome sequencing.
• Demonstrated experience managing research programs and training scientific and technical personnel.
• Experience coordinating research expenses, supplies, and laboratory inventories.
• Strong written and verbal communication, scientific leadership, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to work under deadlines and travel nationally and internationally for periods of up to two to four weeks.
• Ability to provide occasional after-hours support based on assigned mission requirements.
• U.S. citizenship due to federal contract requirements.
• Eligibility to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance and required Government facility and system access.

• Experience…