Principal Investigator, Aerobiology

The National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) is a unique facility located at Fort Detrick in Frederick, MD, dedicated to defending the nation against biological threats. Established in response to biodefense gaps identified after the Amerithrax attacks of 2001, NBACC has been operated by the Battelle National Biodefense Institute (BNBI) since 2006.

NBACC supports DHS and national biodefense preparedness planning, response, emerging threat characterization, and bioforensic analyses. It addresses critical scientific knowledge gaps regarding biological agents to protect the public and defend the nation against biological threats- whether naturally occurring, accidental, or deliberate. NBACC also provides federal law enforcement with scientific data to support the investigation and attribution of biocrimes and the protection of the U.S. bioeconomy.

NBACC is comprised of two centers:

• National Bioforensic Analysis Center (NBFAC): Conducts technical analyses to support federal law enforcement investigations.
• National Biological Threat Characterization Center (NBTCC): Conducts experiments and studies to gather data for understanding biological vulnerabilities and hazards.

Together, these centers serve as a national resource for assessing risks posed by biological agents and emerging technologies, informing biodefense policy and response planning, and supporting the investigation, prosecution, and prevention of biocrimes and bioterrorism.

• Leads research projects that address knowledge gaps related to aerosol transmission of infectious disease, to include planning, safety, regulatory compliance, execution, reporting and project related assignments to technical staff.
• Proactively identifies project risks, risk mitigations, and takes action to address technical, schedule, and/or budgetary risks encountered during assigned projects.
• Assists in the maintenance of aerobiology facilities and equipment, assists in the continuous evaluation and improvement of experimental processes utilized in aerobiology projects, and provides technical leadership in evaluation of new equipment to enhance NBACC capabilities.
• Establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with scientists and other researchers and support staff to foster the formation of successful project teams.
• Collaborates both internally and externally with other scientists and participates in the review of prior and on-going studies.
• Presents research results in written and oral formats clearly and concisely to sponsors, stakeholders, external partners and in open meetings or publications as approved by the sponsor.
• Works on complex problems in which analysis of situations or data requires an in-depth evaluation of various factors.
• Exercises judgment within broadly defined practices and policies in selecting methods, techniques and evaluation criteria for obtaining results.
• Willingness to act independently to determine methods and procedures on new assignments, while overseeing and managing the scientific or administrative activities of subordinates and /or technical personnel.
• Advanced knowledge of scientific principles and concepts, with a reputation as an emerging leader in the field, with sustained performance and accomplishment recognized internally and externally through publications, sponsor feedback, and peer input.
• Participates in the testing and evaluation of new technologies and protocols including writing and updating NBACC Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), work instructions and forms to improve NBACC's ability to serve its customers.
• Identifies departures from the Quality Management System (QMS) and initiates actions to investigate and prevent such occurrences.
• Provides analysis, opinions…