OverviewChenega Services and Federal Solutions, LLC., a
Chenega Professional Services' company, is looking for a
Molecular Virology Lead Scientist to support research focused on the discovery and development of medical countermeasures targeting viral threats of military importance that require high-containment laboratory operations. The position supports research conducted in BSL-2, BSL-3, BSL-4, ABSL-2, ABSL-3, and ABSL-4 environments and requires working knowledge of FDA requirements related to Good Laboratory Practices, Good Manufacturing Practices, Good Clinical Practices, non-clinical research, clinical research, pivotal animal studies, and FDA Animal Rule-related activities. The incumbent will support Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and FDA Animal Rule studies, characterize medical products manufactured for clinical research, assist with study design and execution, support animal protocol development, conduct immunological assays, prepare technical reports and manuscripts, support funding proposal development, and maintain required CS-PRP and BPRP enrollment.
Responsibilities- Perform research aimed at the development of medical countermeasures to prevent and treat viral diseases of importance to the military. Research includes performing hands-on in vitrowork in BSL-2, BSL-3 and BSL-4 containment; and hands-on in vivo work in ABSL-2, ABSL-3, and ABSL-4 containment.
- Assist in the design and development of research projects. Oversee the execution of approved research projects which can include up to ten (10) small animal studies and up to five (5) nonhuman primate studies per year. Will analyze the data from these studies, assist the PI in generation of reports, and assist in planning the next studies.
- Assist the PI in the writing of animal protocols for submission and approval by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.
- Perform immunological assays to characterize responses to infection including, but not limited to, enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA), Western Blot, flow cytometry, plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) and immunohistochemistry (IHC).
- Assist in the preparation of BSL-2, BSL-3, and BSL-4 labs for Safety, Bio-surety, CDC, and Department of Army Inspector General inspections at a minimum of 4 times a year. Use laboratory experience and expertise to provide training, perform laboratory supervisor duties and participate in laboratory containment working group(s) as needed to help ensure the labs, lab personnel, and procedures performed in the laboratory meet the applicable standards and regulations.
- Assist PI in pursuit of funding from DTRA and other funding agencies in collaboration with the Government and USAMRIID to further the research portfolio of the Division and USAMRIID. Will assist with the preparation of a minimum of three (3) grants and proposals for prospective funding opportunities per year to the institute's portfolio management committee or equivalent for consideration.
- Will prepare technical reports describing the status of projects to appropriate funding agencies. Frequency of delivery is quarterly or as defined by the reporting requirements of the department, division and funding sponsor.
- Author manuscripts related to research findings and submit for publication in relevant scientific journals at least one manuscript per year. May be required to present work at Scientific Meetings (approximately 1-2 per year) which may require CONUS and OCONUS travel.
- Develop or conduct annual reviews of SOPs for the Virology Division as assigned.
- Provide the TPOC with a PI Technical Report NLT the last working day of each month.
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications- Ph.D. in Virology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Immunology, Biomedical Science, Infectious Disease, or a related scientific discipline.
- Experience consistent with a Scientist 3-level role supporting complex scientific research, study execution, technical reporting, manuscript development, and high-containment laboratory operations.
- Experience conducting or supporting viral disease, medical countermeasure, infectious disease, biodefense, or related biomedical research.
- Experience supporting research conducted under FDA-regulated or quality-driven environments, including GLP, GMP, GCP, non-clinical research, clinical research, pivotal animal studies, or FDA Animal Rule-related activities.
- Experience supporting Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, FDA Animal Rule, or medical product characterization studies.
- Experience designing, developing, executing, analyzing, and reporting scientific research projects.
- Experience supporting animal studies, animal protocol development, and IACUC submission requirements.
- Experience performing immunological assays such as ELISA, Western Blot, flow cytometry, PRNT, and immunohistochemistry.
- Experience preparing technical reports, scientific manuscripts, SOPs, grants, proposals, and research documentation.
- Experience providing training, laboratory supervisory support, or technical guidance in high-containment laboratory settings.
- Ability to work in BSL-2, BSL-3, BSL-4, ABSL-2, ABSL-3, and ABSL-4 environments.
- Ability to work with controlled substances.
- Ability to obtain and maintain CS-PRP enrollment.
- Ability to obtain and maintain BPRP enrollment.
- Successfully pass background and drug screening
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience serving as a lead scientist or senior scientific contributor supporting virology, infectious disease, biodefense, or medical countermeasure programs.
- Experience working in BSL-3 and/or BSL-4 laboratory environments.
- Experience supporting ABSL-3 and/or ABSL-4 animal research studies.
- Experience supporting FDA-regulated research, FDA Animal Rule studies, pivotal animal studies, or clinical product characterization efforts.
- Experience preparing laboratories for Safety, Biosurety, CDC, or Department of the Army Inspector General inspections.
- Experience preparing grant applications, research proposals, technical reports, and sponsor-facing documentation.
- Experience authoring peer-reviewed manuscripts and presenting research findings at scientific conferences.
- Experience developing or reviewing Virology Division SOPs.
- Experience participating in laboratory containment working groups or performing laboratory supervisor duties.
- Experience supporting DTRA or other government-funded research programs.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Advanced knowledge of molecular virology, viral disease research, infectious disease research, biodefense programs, and medical countermeasure development.
- Knowledge of FDA non-clinical, clinical, pivotal animal study, GLP, GMP, GCP, and FDA Animal Rule-related research requirements.
- Knowledge of BSL-2, BSL-3, BSL-4, ABSL-2, ABSL-3, and ABSL-4 laboratory operations and high-containment research requirements.
- Knowledge of immunological assay methods, including ELISA, Western Blot, flow cytometry, PRNT, and immunohistochemistry.
- Knowledge of animal study design, animal protocol development, IACUC submission processes, and study execution requirements.
- Knowledge of laboratory inspection readiness, biosafety, biosurety, CDC inspection support, and Department of the Army Inspector General inspection preparation.
- Ability to support research project design, study execution, data analysis, technical reporting, and follow-on study planning.
- Ability to prepare technical reports, manuscripts, SOPs, grant materials, proposals, monthly reports, and scientific presentations.
- Ability to provide training, laboratory supervisory support, and technical guidance to laboratory personnel.
- Ability to communicate scientific findings clearly in written and oral formats to internal and external audiences.
- Strong scientific judgment, analytical thinking, technical writing, organizational, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary scientific research teams.
