OverviewChenega Services and Federal Solutions, LLC., a
Chenega Professional Services' company, is looking for a
Cell & Systems Biology Staff Scientist to conduct basic and systems biology research on current and emerging threats in support of biodefense and infectious disease programs within the Therapeutics Discovery Branch. The position supports research focused on innate immunology, host-pathogen interactions, therapeutic discovery, and multi-omics analysis. Responsibilities include experimental design and execution, functional assay development, high-content imaging, flow cytometry, molecular biology techniques, data analysis, systems biology research, manuscript development, proposal support, and scientific reporting. The incumbent contributes to therapeutic development efforts through biochemical, cell biological, immunological, and systems biology approaches while coordinating with internal researchers to support studies involving BSL-2, BSL-3, and BSL-4 pathogens.
Responsibilities- Conduct basic and systems biology research supporting biodefense, infectious disease, and therapeutic discovery programs.
- Develop and perform reporter-based functional assays to evaluate pathogens and small-molecule libraries.
- Utilize high-content imaging, flow cytometry, real-time PCR, cytokine assays, immunoprecipitation, Western blotting, and related technologies to characterize therapeutic mechanisms of action.
- Support analysis of high-throughput screening data utilizing analytical platforms including Spotfire and Genedata.
- Participate in identification and characterization of lead compounds with potential broad-spectrum activity against multiple biothreat agents.
- Conduct research utilizing integrated multi-omics approaches, including genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics, to evaluate pathogens through in vitro and in vivo studies.
- Analyze large-scale datasets utilizing data mining and systems biology tools including Ingenuity, Nextbio, Metascape, Cytoscape, and related platforms.
- Identify key biological features, regulatory networks, host correlates, and pathways associated with infectious disease processes.
- Perform functional genomic screens and proteomic studies to identify host factors influencing innate immune signaling pathways.
- Conduct studies involving bacterial biothreat pathogens, including Bacillus anthracis, Burkholderia mallei, and Burkholderia pseudomallei, and viral pathogens including filoviruses and alphaviruses.
- Maintain laboratory operations in compliance with established regulations and standards.
- Coordinate research supply requirements and laboratory procurement activities with division personnel.
- Train new personnel, students, and technicians while providing mentorship to junior scientists.
- Communicate research data, laboratory findings, and technical issues to appropriate points of contact.
- Coordinate with equipment vendors and technical representatives regarding laboratory equipment support and troubleshooting.
- Prepare technical reports, standard operating procedures, scientific documentation, and manuscripts.
- Present research findings through internal briefings, laboratory meetings, scientific conferences, and technical presentations.
- Prepare monthly Cell and Systems Biology progress reports.
- Attend weekly scientific discussions and present research updates during monthly laboratory meetings.
- Author or co-author research proposals, solicitations, and funding submissions in collaboration with USAMRIID leadership.
- Support responses to scientific and technical requests from government sponsors, including DTRA.
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications- Master's degree or Ph.D. in Immunology, Systems Biology, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Microbiology, Biomedical Science, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, or a related scientific discipline.
- Minimum three (3) years of experience in innate immunology with emphasis on systems biology and host-pathogen interaction research.
- Experience conducting basic and applied research supporting infectious disease, biodefense, therapeutic discovery, or biomedical research programs.
- Experience performing experimental research utilizing biochemical, cell biological, immunological, and systems biology methodologies.
- Experience generating and evaluating functional assays and high-throughput screening approaches.
- Experience analyzing large omics datasets and applying bioinformatics or systems biology tools to biological research.
- Experience preparing scientific reports, manuscripts, technical documentation, and research presentations.
- Experience collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and communicating scientific data.
- Ability to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary scientific research environments.
- Successfully pass background and drug screening
Preferred Qualifications:
- Ph.D. in Immunology, Systems Biology, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Microbiology, Biomedical Sciences, or a related discipline.
- Experience supporting biodefense, infectious disease, host-pathogen interaction, or therapeutic discovery programs.
- Experience utilizing high-content imaging, flow cytometry, real-time PCR, cytokine profiling, immunoprecipitation, Western blotting, and related technologies.
- Experience working with multi-omics datasets including genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics.
- Experience utilizing analytical platforms such as Spotfire, Genedata, Ingenuity, Nextbio, Metascape, and Cytoscape.
- Experience conducting functional genomic screens and proteomic studies.
- Experience preparing or supporting grant proposals, research solicitations, and funding submissions.
- Experience mentoring students, laboratory technicians, or junior scientists.
- Experience preparing scientific manuscripts and presenting at scientific conferences.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Advanced knowledge of immunology, innate immunity, systems biology, cell biology, molecular biology, and host-pathogen interactions.
- Knowledge of therapeutic discovery, infectious disease research, and biodefense research methodologies.
- Knowledge of genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and integrated multi-omics approaches.
- Knowledge of flow cytometry, high-content imaging, real-time PCR, cytokine assays, immunoprecipitation, Western blotting, and related laboratory techniques.
- Knowledge of functional genomics, proteomics, and systems biology analytical methodologies.
- Knowledge of data mining, biological network analysis, and computational biology tools.
- Ability to independently design, execute, analyze, and interpret scientific experiments.
- Ability to analyze complex biological datasets and communicate findings through written reports and presentations.
- Ability to prepare manuscripts, technical documents, SOPs, proposals, and scientific reports.
- Ability to mentor junior scientists, laboratory technicians, and students.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary scientific teams and external stakeholders.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, technical writing, presentation, and communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple research priorities while maintaining quality and scientific rigor.
