Research Associate - Microbiology and NGS

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Parsons is seeking a Research Associate – Microbiology and NGS to support laboratory research at NMRC BDRD. The position will contribute to infectious-disease research involving microbiology, bacteriophages, NGS, pathogen detection, sample processing, and genomic characterization.

The selected candidate will perform laboratory procedures, maintain accurate scientific records, troubleshoot experiments, and collaborate with scientists and bioinformatics personnel supporting biodefense and biosurveillance programs.

• Perform microbiology and molecular-biology laboratory procedures supporting infectious-disease research.

• Process clinical, environmental, bacterial, viral, bacteriophage, or other research samples.

• Support NGS library preparation, sequencing, and associated quality-control activities.

• Assist with bacteriophage isolation, sequencing, characterization, or host-related studies.

• Conduct sample preparation and laboratory testing under approved protocols and SOPs.

• Assist with wet-laboratory protocol development, optimization, and standardization.

• Maintain accurate laboratory notebooks, sample records, inventories, and electronic files.

• Analyze experimental results and communicate findings to scientists and technical leads.

• Troubleshoot laboratory methods, instruments, and sample-processing issues.

• Support the preparation of protocols, SOPs, technical reports, presentations, and publications.

• Maintain laboratory equipment and follow all applicable safety and quality requirements.

• Travel domestically or internationally to support partner laboratories or field activities when required.

• Master’s or bachelor’s degree in biological sciences or a relevant field.

• At least five years of relevant microbiology experience.

• At least three years of hands-on experience with bacteriophages and/or NGS techniques.

• Demonstrated ability to perform microbiology or molecular-biology laboratory procedures.

• Ability to maintain accurate scientific records and follow approved protocols.

• Strong communication, organization, troubleshooting, and teamwork skills.

• Availability for national and international travel of up to two to four weeks.

• Ability to adjust work hours occasionally for time-sensitive experiments.

• U.S. citizenship due to federal contract requirements.

• Ability to satisfy the applicable background investigation, CAC, facility-access, and Government system-access requirements.

• Experience supporting pathogen sequencing, biosurveillance, or infectious-disease research.

• Experience with Illumina, Pac Bio, or ONT sequencing technologies.

• Experience with clinical, environmental, wastewater, vector, or animal samples.

• Experience with bacteriophage isolation, host-range testing, or genome characterization.

• Experience supporting NMRC, DoD, or another federal research laboratory.

• Experience with human-subject or animal-use research.

• Experience working with international partners or in resource-limited settings.

• Current Government facility or system access.

This position is expected to be primarily on-site at Fort Detrick and is contingent upon contract award. The PWS does not expressly require a Secret clearance for this labor category, but applicable background investigation and access requirements will apply. Security…