OverviewChenega Services and Federal Solutions, LLC., a
Chenega Professional Services' company, is looking for a
Bacterial Core Lead Scientist to conduct basic and applied research on specified bacterial threats in support of the biodefense and infectious disease program. The position supports in vitro and in vivo research focused on bacterial threat agents, therapeutic compound evaluation, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, toxicology, animal model studies, microscopy systems, data analysis, scientific reporting, manuscript preparation, and laboratory operations. The incumbent plans and performs MIC testing against Tier 1 bacteria, supports small-animal studies, contributes to multidisciplinary pharmacology research efforts, prepares scientific reports and publications, maintains GLP compliance, and supports BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratory readiness. This role works in BSL-3 laboratories and requires maintaining BPRP and CS-PRP enrollment in accordance with contract requirements and applicable regulations.
Responsibilities- Shall use computer to analyze data and prepare graphs, do statistics, write lab notes and reports.
- Complete 4 quarterly reports and 1 annual progress reports for DTRA per investigator
- Present 2 research findings/presentations at lab meetings and approximately 23 lab meetings per year, and if required, attend approximately 2 scientific meetings or symposia (CONUS or OCONUS).
- Attend 12 division meetings per year and give 1 presentation per investigator
- Prepare one 1st author manuscript for publication per year
- Prepare approximately 2 supporting author scientific papers for publication.
- In charge of maintenance of ~6 microscope systems in laboratories.
- Responsible for ordering microscopy systems and parts.
- Prepare BSL-2 and BSL-3 labs for Safety, Bio-surety and CDC inspections four times a year.
- Plan and perform in vitro Minimum Inhibition Concentration (MIC) testing of potential therapeutic compounds against Tier 1 bacteria. We currently utilize 30-strain diversity set of Bacillus anthracis (anthrax), Yersinia pestis (plague), Francisella tularensis (tularemia), Burkholderia mallei (glanders), and Burkholderia pseudomallei (meliodosis), testing over 72 compounds per year against all 30 strains, in vitro.
- Plan and participate in mouse, rat, and rabbit studies, which include preparation of antibiotics for administration, administering drugs and vaccines, orally and by intraperitoneal, intramuscular, subcutaneous, and intravenous administration. In addition, collect animal body fluids and remove tissues with all small-animal studies executed. Upon execution of experiment, you shall perform animal health exams to ensure study remains in compliance with IACUC approved protocols.
- Participate in weekly lab meetings and assist in development and design with current and future in vitro and in vivo work. May be requested to present posters at 1 scientific conference which may require work to be performed outside normal business hours.
- Plan and participate in small-animal BSL-2 pharmacokinetics and toxicology studies; to include preparation of antibiotics for administration; administering drugs and vaccines, followed by blood and tissue collection of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics relationships and efficacy of optimized leads.
- Support the in vivo pharmacology research program and contribute to the multidisciplinary research team to determine pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics relationships and efficacy of optimized leads.
- Assist in approximately 4 animal protocols working with bacterial pathogens.
- Participate in testing and purifying anthraciscomponents for efficacy studies.
- Write, plan and execute 1 animal protocol.
- Perform approximately 24 ELISAs per year.
- Process approximately 150 flow cytometry samples per year
- Test for endotoxin and perform endotoxin remediation when necessary approximately 50 times per year.
- Purify approximately 16 bacterial products from culture supernatants per year.
- Conduct Equipment Inventory Management twice a year in BSL-2 and BSL-3
- Perform monthly Laboratory Management to include safety functions and chemical inventory.
- Provide 1 Lead Scientist monthly report to TPOC by the last working day of the month. Report will include materials and methods, data and data analysis and should be updated monthly.
- Maintain a GLP training folder and be compliant with all GLP regulations when applicable.
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications- Ph.D. in Bacteriology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Immunology, Biology, Biomedical Science, Pharmacology, or a related scientific discipline; master's degree with extensive directly related research experience may be considered.
- CS-PRP enrollment is required and shall be held and maintained IAW the provisions in this contract and all applicable regulations.
- BPRP enrollment is required and shall be held and maintained IAW the provisions in this contract and all applicable regulations.
- Experience conducting basic and applied research supporting biodefense, infectious disease, bacteriology, therapeutic evaluation, pharmacology, or medical countermeasure programs.
- Experience planning, executing, analyzing, and reporting in vitro and in vivo scientific studies.
- Experience conducting MIC testing, ELISA assays, flow cytometry sample processing, endotoxin testing/remediation, bacterial product purification, or related bacteriology and pharmacology research activities.
- Experience supporting small-animal studies, including administration of antibiotics, drugs, or vaccines and collection of animal body fluids and tissues.
- Experience preparing scientific reports, technical documentation, laboratory notes, statistical summaries, graphs, presentations, and manuscripts.
- Experience supporting laboratory management, equipment management, GLP compliance, and inspection readiness activities.
- Ability to work in BSL-3 laboratory environments.
- Ability to obtain and maintain CS-PRP enrollment in accordance with contract requirements and applicable regulations.
- Ability to obtain and maintain BPRP enrollment in accordance with contract requirements and applicable regulations.
- Successfully pass background and drug screening
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience serving as a lead scientist or senior scientific contributor supporting bacteriology, biodefense, infectious disease, pharmacology, or therapeutic discovery research.
- Experience working in BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratory environments.
- Experience preparing laboratories for Safety, Biosurety, CDC, or related inspections.
- Experience conducting research involving Tier 1 bacterial agents or bacterial threat agents.
- Experience supporting pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, toxicology, or efficacy studies.
- Experience developing or executing animal protocols under IACUC-approved requirements.
- Experience preparing first-author or supporting-author scientific manuscripts.
- Experience presenting scientific findings at laboratory meetings, division meetings, scientific conferences, or symposia.
- Experience maintaining GLP training records and supporting GLP-compliant research activities.
- Experience managing laboratory equipment, microscope systems, chemical inventories, safety activities, or laboratory operations.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Knowledge of bacteriology, infectious disease research, bacterial threat agents, therapeutic evaluation, pharmacology, and medical countermeasure research.
- Knowledge of MIC testing, ELISA, flow cytometry, endotoxin testing/remediation, bacterial product purification, and related laboratory methodologies.
- Knowledge of in vitro and in vivo research design, animal protocol execution, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic assessments, and small-animal study support.
- Knowledge of BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratory operations, biosafety, biosurety, CDC inspection readiness, and laboratory compliance requirements.
- Knowledge of GLP requirements, laboratory documentation, scientific reporting, data analysis, and manuscript preparation.
- Ability to plan, execute, analyze, and report complex scientific studies.
- Ability to analyze data, prepare graphs, conduct statistics, and write laboratory notes, reports, and scientific manuscripts.
- Ability to support animal studies while maintaining compliance with approved IACUC protocols.
- Ability to communicate research findings in written and oral formats to internal and external audiences.
- Ability to manage laboratory equipment, supplies, safety functions, chemical inventories, and inspection readiness activities.
- Strong analytical, technical writing, organizational, problem-solving, and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary scientific research teams.
- Ability to maintain required CS-PRP and BPRP enrollment and comply with applicable contract and regulatory requirements.
