Biology Technician III

Akima Systems Engineering, an Akima company, is looking to hire Biologist Technician III's to join the team. You will have an opportunity to perform laboratory duties and molecular techniques related to disease surveillance. The Biology Technician will collaborate with government scientists to assist with rapid detection of diseases that could impact public safety and economic prosperity.

The National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) is a science center of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) with specialized laboratories dedicated to wildlife disease detection, control, and prevention. Their mission is to advance wildlife health science for the benefit of animals, humans, and the environment. Their work involves the performance of molecular techniques, microbiological techniques, and scientific research to better understand emerging pathogens in amphibians

• The Biology Technician III will be a qualified and experienced individual who can perform the tasks described below and within written established guidelines.
• The work required is to design and perform scientific experiments, generate scientific data, and conduct appropriate analysis in support of experimental conclusions.
• Experimental designs, hypotheses, results, and conclusions shall be documented, and records shall be submitted documenting progress towards task accomplishment.
• The Biology Technician will collaborate with USGS staff and scientists to collect data, perform analyses, and write and publish USGS report products, in accordance with fundamental science practices and quality assurance standards.
• Perform laboratory studies of fungal pathogens such as those that cause chytridiomycosis
• Relies on moderate level of experience and judgement, along with instructions and pre-established guidelines to perform the laboratory studies.
• Prepare sampling kits for collaborators collecting samples in the field and coordinate submission of those kits.
• Enter data in Excel spreadsheets and Access databases.
• Create, edit, and follow standard operating procedures (SOPs), maintain a detailed laboratory notebook, and adhere to guidelines of a Quality Management System (QMS).
• Collect, curate, and prepare biological and environmental samples for nucleic acid extraction.
• Perform conventional PCR, cloning, and DNA sequencing to identify fungal strains and bat specimens to the species level.
• Perform real-time PCR to detect and quantify pathogens in samples.
• Troubleshoot various molecular biology techniques such as PCR.
• Assist with necropsies of frogs and salamanders.
• Assist with captive animal experiments
• Assist with experimental design.
• Operate laboratory equipment (balances, centrifuges, microscopes, incubators, shakers, pipettes, thermal cyclers, spectrophotometers).
• Isolate, culture, maintain, and cryopreserve live micro-organisms from clinical samples.
• Harvest and enumerate fungal spores for various experiments.
• Extract nucleic acid in pursuit of whole genome sequencing.
• Provide preliminary analysis of data to support the conclusions of the experiments.
• Assist to assemble, evaluate, and analyze data for presentation in a scientifically appropriate manner.
• Assist to assemble, evaluate, and analyze data for inclusion in reports and publications describing results.
• Maintain laboratory supplies and equipment and ensure all laboratory safety standards are met.

• Must be a US Citizen able to pass a thorough background check including criminal and financial at both the state and federal level. (note candidate cannot start until they have passed the government background check which can take at least 3 weeks from offer acceptance to obtain).
• Bachelor's degree in a Science related discipline and 1 year of field/work related lab experience.
• Experience with PCR and DNA sequencing.
• Necropsy experience a plus.
• Strong attention to detail.
• The ability to use computer software and databases to develop complicated statistical and research reports.

On-Site

Akima Systems Engineering (ASE), an Akima company, is not just another federal systems support contractor. As an Alaska Native Corporation (ANC), our mission and purpose…