OverviewChenega Services and Federal Solutions, LLC., a
Chenega Professional Services' company, is looking for a
Bacteriology Staff Scientist to conduct and support basic and applied research on specified bacterial threats in support of biodefense and infectious disease programs. The position supports planning and execution of scientific studies, bacterial assays, animal procedures, data collection and analysis, manuscript development, laboratory maintenance, and complex in vivo and in vitro research activities. The incumbent will support studies focused on bacterial pathogenesis and development of medical countermeasures against plague, tularemia, melioidosis, glanders, anthrax, Q-fever, and related bacterial threats. This role requires demonstrated experience designing, executing, and analyzing complex studies, including regulatory requirements associated with the FDA Animal Rule, and requires work in BSL-3 laboratories with applicable BPRP and CS-PRP enrollment requirements.
Responsibilities- Assist in planning, managing, and executing complex in vivo studies using various animal models of infectious diseases (animal species include mice, ferrets, guinea pigs, rabbits, non-human primates, etc.). These studies will focus on the bacterial pathogenesis of and development of medical countermeasures against the diseases plague, tularemia, melioidosis, glanders, anthrax, and Q-fever. In these types of studies, extreme attention to detail while working under high-containment conditions is essential.
- Perform animal manipulations to include but not limited to observations, injections, blood draws, and euthanasia on laboratory animals (to include non-human primates) under ABSL-2 and ABSL-3 conditions.
- Collate, analyze, and draft contributing scientist reports on clinical readout of disease (i.e. radiographs, clinical chemistry, and hematology) of non-human primates.
- Draft up to seven animal protocols, study protocols, and/or technical reports annually.
- Author or co-author has at least one peer-reviewed manuscript annually.
- Maintain a GLP training folder and be compliant with all GLP regulations when applicable.
- Review, organize, and analyze study paperwork and data generated for at least three studies per year.
- Work in a BSL-3 laboratory performing in vitro assays (i.e. bacterial propagation, bacterial burden enumeration, and PCR) in support of the funded research portfolio. Bacteria may include, but are not limited to Francisella tularensis, Yersinia pestis, Bacillus anthracis, Coxiella burnetii, Burkholderia pseudomallei, and Burkholderia mallei.
- Assist in managing, designing, and executing co-infection in vivo studies that may include multiple species of bacteria or a bacterium and a virus.
- Perform and assist managing routine laboratory maintenance and sustainment activities to include preparation for inspections in both BSL-2 and BSL-3 safety levels and tracking reagent/consumable inventories and placing orders through appropriate acquisition mechanisms.
- Maintain accountability of all BSAT and ensure records are up to date and communicated to the FSAP-registered PI.
- Perform quality review on all raw data and ensure corrections are made under good documentation practices.
- Review relevant literature monthly. May assist in the preparation standard operating procedures. The Contractor may be expected to present research findings at one scientific conference per year, which may require CONUS or OCONUS travel. Contractor shall present results in written and oral format publicly and internally as requested.
- Provide 1 Bacteriology Staff Scientist monthly report to the TPOC by the last working day of the month. Report shall include materials and methods, data and data analysis and should be updated monthly.
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications- Ph.D. or D.V.M. with research experience in bacteriology, animal physiology, or a similar field of research.
- 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.
- Demonstrated experience designing, executing, and analyzing all stages of complex scientific studies.
- Experience supporting studies involving regulatory requirements associated with the FDA Animal Rule.
- Experience performing or supporting bacterial assays, animal procedures, scientific data collection, data analysis, manuscript development, and laboratory operations.
- Experience working in BSL-3 laboratories and handling controlled substances.
- 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:
- Minimum of three (3) years of relevant experience in bacteriology, animal physiology, or a similar scientific field.
- Experience working under high-containment conditions, including BSL-3 and ABSL-3 environments.
- Experience supporting infectious disease, biodefense, bacteriology, animal model, or medical countermeasure research programs.
- Experience supporting studies involving plague, tularemia, melioidosis, glanders, anthrax, Q-fever, or related bacterial threats.
- Experience performing in vitro bacteriology assays, bacterial propagation, bacterial burden enumeration, PCR, and related laboratory techniques.
- Experience supporting in vivo animal studies, animal manipulations, and laboratory animal research protocols.
- Experience preparing peer-reviewed manuscripts, technical reports, animal protocols, study protocols, SOPs, and scientific presentations.
- Experience maintaining BSAT accountability records and supporting laboratory compliance activities.
- Experience supporting GLP-compliant documentation and good documentation practices.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Knowledge of bacteriology, animal physiology, infectious disease research, bacterial pathogenesis, and medical countermeasure development.
- Knowledge of in vivo animal models of infectious disease, including small animal and non-human primate models.
- Knowledge of animal manipulations, clinical readouts, bacterial burden analysis, and high-containment animal research practices.
- Knowledge of in vitro bacteriology assays, bacterial propagation, bacterial burden enumeration, PCR, and co-infection study approaches.
- Knowledge of BSL-2, BSL-3, ABSL-2, and ABSL-3 laboratory operations, biosafety practices, and high-containment research requirements.
- Knowledge of FDA Animal Rule-related regulatory requirements, GLP documentation, good documentation practices, and raw data quality review.
- Knowledge of BSAT accountability, FSAP-related record communication, laboratory inventory management, and inspection readiness activities.
- Ability to assist in planning, managing, executing, and analyzing complex scientific studies.
- Ability to collate, analyze, organize, and maintain scientific data, study paperwork, and laboratory documentation.
- Ability to draft technical reports, animal protocols, study protocols, SOPs, monthly reports, manuscripts, and scientific summaries.
- Ability to review scientific literature and apply findings to research planning and execution.
- Ability to communicate scientific findings in written and oral formats to internal and external audiences.
- Strong analytical, technical writing, organizational, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary scientific research teams.
