OverviewChenega Services and Federal Solutions, LLC., a
Chenega Professional Services' company, is looking for a
Viral Pathogenesis Lead Scientist to conduct and direct basic and applied research on current and emerging viral threats in support of biodefense and infectious disease programs. The position leads and supports scientific studies evaluating medical countermeasures against infectious diseases using in vivo, in vitro, and ex vivo approaches. The incumbent will work in BSL-2, BSL-3, and BSL-4 laboratory environments, support research portfolio development, seek and support funding opportunities, coordinate scientific collaborations, prepare technical reports and manuscripts, review scientific proposals, support laboratory readiness and inspection activities, provide training, perform suite supervisor duties, and maintain required CS-PRP and BPRP enrollment. This role requires demonstrated subject matter expertise, independent research capability, strong scientific communication skills, and the ability to manage laboratory operations and technical personnel consistent with a Scientist 3 level position.
Responsibilities- Serve as a Lead Scientist conducting basic and applied research on current and emerging viral threats in support of biodefense and infectious disease programs.
- Conduct and support research activities in BSL-2, BSL-3, and BSL-4 laboratory environments.
- Work with controlled substances in accordance with contract requirements and applicable regulations.
- Prepare BSL-2, BSL-3, and BSL-4 laboratories for Safety, Biosurety, CDC, and Department of the Army Inspector General inspections.
- Use laboratory experience and technical expertise to provide training, perform suite supervisor duties, and participate in laboratory containment working groups.
- Help ensure laboratory spaces, personnel, and procedures meet applicable standards and regulations.
- Seek funding from DTRA and other funding agencies in collaboration with the Government and USAMRIID to further the research portfolio of the Division and USAMRIID.
- Prepare and submit proposals for prospective funding opportunities to the Institute's portfolio management committee or equivalent for consideration.
- Assist in establishing and coordinating extramural collaborations and contracts to augment the research program.
- Coordinate and collaborate with scientists within the Division and Institute on in vivo, in vitro, and ex vivo studies evaluating medical countermeasures against infectious diseases.
- Support in vivo studies involving non-human primates and rodents, as well as in vitro and ex vivo studies supporting medical countermeasure research.
- Prepare technical reports as required by the Institute or funding agency.
- Prepare at least one manuscript for publication annually.
- Present research findings at scientific meetings as required, which may require CONUS or OCONUS travel.
- Conduct scientific reviews of peer proposals in preparation for submission to the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.
- Develop or conduct annual reviews of SOPs maintained for the Virology Division.
- Provide a PI Technical Report to the TPOC no later than the last working day of each month.
- Maintain CS-PRP enrollment in accordance with contract requirements and applicable regulations.
- Maintain BPRP enrollment in accordance with contract requirements and applicable regulations.
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications- Ph.D. in Virology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Immunology, Biology, Biomedical Science, Infectious Disease, or a related life sciences discipline.
- Demonstrated subject matter expertise in several areas relevant to viral pathogenesis, infectious disease research, biodefense, and/or medical countermeasure development.
- Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research through publication of technical reports and/or peer-reviewed publications.
- Experience working in a research laboratory environment.
- Experience managing research laboratory operations and supporting a small cadre of technical personnel.
- Experience conducting or supporting in vivo, in vitro, and/or ex vivo studies evaluating infectious disease medical countermeasures.
- Experience preparing technical reports, scientific manuscripts, proposals, SOPs, and research documentation.
- Experience presenting scientific findings in meetings, technical forums, or scientific conferences.
- Experience supporting laboratory readiness, inspections, regulatory compliance, and high-containment laboratory operations.
- Ability to work in BSL-2, BSL-3, and BSL-4 laboratory environments.
- Ability to work with 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:
- Experience serving as a lead scientist or senior scientific contributor within a virology, viral pathogenesis, infectious disease, biodefense, or medical countermeasure research program.
- Experience working in BSL-3 and/or BSL-4 laboratory environments.
- Experience coordinating in vivo, in vitro, and ex vivo studies evaluating medical countermeasures against infectious diseases.
- Experience supporting non-human primate and rodent studies.
- Experience preparing funding proposals or supporting research portfolio development.
- Experience establishing or coordinating extramural collaborations, contracts, or research partnerships.
- Experience preparing laboratories for Safety, Biosurety, CDC, or Department of the Army Inspector General inspections.
- Experience performing suite supervisor duties, supporting laboratory containment working groups, or training laboratory personnel.
- Experience reviewing scientific proposals for IACUC submission.
- Experience developing, reviewing, or maintaining SOPs.
- Experience preparing technical reports, peer-reviewed manuscripts, and scientific presentations.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Knowledge of virology, viral pathogenesis, infectious disease research, biodefense programs, and medical countermeasure development.
- Knowledge of in vivo, in vitro, and ex vivo study design and execution.
- Knowledge of BSL-2, BSL-3, and BSL-4 laboratory operations, biosafety requirements, biosurety requirements, and high-containment laboratory practices.
- Knowledge of laboratory inspection readiness requirements, including Safety, Biosurety, CDC, and Department of the Army Inspector General inspection preparation.
- Knowledge of scientific proposal development, research funding processes, and research portfolio support.
- Knowledge of SOP development, annual SOP review processes, scientific review practices, and IACUC proposal preparation support.
- Ability to independently plan, execute, analyze, and report scientific research.
- Ability to coordinate collaborative research activities with scientists, government stakeholders, and external partners.
- Ability to manage laboratory operations and provide training, mentorship, and technical guidance to laboratory personnel.
- Ability to prepare technical reports, proposals, manuscripts, SOPs, monthly reports, and scientific presentations.
- Ability to communicate scientific findings clearly in written and oral formats to internal and external audiences.
- Ability to support laboratory containment working groups and ensure laboratory personnel and procedures meet applicable standards and regulations.
- Strong scientific judgment, analytical thinking, technical writing, organizational, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary scientific research teams.
