Therapeutics Discovery Staff Scientist

Come join a company that strives for Extraordinary People and Exceptional Performance! Chenega Services and Federal Solutions, LLC., a Chenega Professional Services’ company, is looking for a Therapeutics Discovery Staff Scientist to support the design and execution of in vitro and in vivo studies to evaluate medical countermeasures, including vaccines and therapeutics, and to investigate infectious disease pathogenesis. This key personnel role designs immunogenicity and virology studies; evaluates cellular and humoral immune responses; supports small-animal studies in BSL-2, BSL-3, and BSL-4 laboratories; prepares technical reports and manuscripts; mentors junior staff; and collaborates with internal and external partners to advance USAMRIID's medical countermeasure portfolio. 

Our company offers employees the opportunity to join a team where there is a robust employee benefits program, management engagement, quality leadership, an atmosphere of teamwork, recognition for performance, and promotion opportunities. We actively strive to channel our highly engaged employee’s knowledge, critical thinking, and determination to innovate scalable solutions for our clients. 

• Design, coordinate, and conduct in vitro testing of medical countermeasure candidates, including vaccines and therapeutics, and investigate pathogenesis using cell culture and microphysiological systems.
• Collaborate with scientists across the Division and Institute to execute in vivo and in vitro studies evaluating medical countermeasures against infectious diseases.
• Support small-animal studies in BSL-2, BSL-3, and BSL-4 laboratories, including study design, protocol drafting, anesthesia, vaccine and therapeutic administration, virus challenge, health monitoring, documentation, necropsy, sample collection and processing, data analysis, and reporting to the Principal Investigator.
• Support up to ten in vivo small-animal studies annually.
• Design and perform assays evaluating cellular and humoral immune responses using ELISA, flow cytometry, ELISPOT, and other relevant immunological techniques.
• Perform molecular biology and virology techniques including PCR, qRT-PCR, DNA preparation and purification, cloning, transformations, FISH, flow cytometry, Western blot, IFA, high-content imaging, plaque assays, PRNT, cell culture, and related assays.
• Perform and track cryopreservation and thawing of cell lines.
• Author or coauthor research proposals, solicitations, service-call responses, technical reports, and other documents supporting USAMRIID mission and portfolio objectives.
• Conduct literature searches; prepare at least one manuscript for publication annually; present results internally and publicly; and present work at approximately one scientific meeting per year, which may require CONUS or OCONUS travel.
• Present research findings at monthly laboratory meetings and participate in weekly scientific discussions or other meetings as required.
• Mentor and assist with technical training of junior staff in BSL-2, BSL-3, and BSL-4 environments and serve as a BSL-3 and BSL-4 mentor.
• Manage, safeguard, and store biological select agents and toxins, animal tissue samples, and working stock samples in accordance with applicable requirements.
• Prepare for and participate in laboratory inspections conducted by the Risk Management Office, Biosurety, CDC, and/or the Department of the Army Inspector General at least four times annually.
• Assess and maintain laboratory supplies, order materials using GFEBS or DMLSS, serve as suite supervisor for assigned BSL-2 laboratories, and assist with annual equipment inventory management.
• Provide the TPOC a Principal Investigator Technical Report no later than the last working day of each month.
• Obtain and maintain Biological Personnel Reliability Program and Controlled Substances Personnel Reliability Program enrollment in accordance with contract and regulatory requirements.
• Other duties as assigned

• PhD in Biomedical Science, Microbiology, Virology, or a closely related life-science discipline.
• At least three years of related post-degree laboratory experience.
• Demonstrated subject matter expertise in a relevant life-science area and ability to conduct independent research, consistent with the Scientist 2 labor category.
• Demonstrated experience designing and conducting immunogenicity and basic virology studies.
• Experience assessing cellular and humoral immune responses.
• Experience with laboratory research involving infectious agents and small-animal studies.
• Experience performing relevant immunological, molecular biology, virology, and cell-culture techniques.
• Demonstrated written and oral scientific communication skills, including technical reports, presentations, and peer-reviewed publications.
• Ability to work in BSL-2, BSL-3, and BSL-4 laboratories and handle controlled substances.
• Ability to obtain and maintain BPRP and CS-PRP enrollment in accordance with applicable requirements.
• Ability to travel CONUS or OCONUS for scientific meetings or mission requirements, as needed.
• Successfully pass background and drug screening

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience evaluating vaccines, therapeutics, or other medical countermeasure candidates.
• Experience with micro physiological systems, ELISA, flow cytometry, ELISPOT, plaque assays, PRNT, high-content imaging, and advanced molecular biology methods.
• Experience preparing animal protocols, study protocols, research proposals, manuscripts, and sponsor-facing technical reports.
• Experience mentoring junior scientific staff and serving as a high-containment laboratory mentor or suite supervisor.
• Experience with GFEBS or DMLSS ordering systems and laboratory inspection readiness.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Advanced knowledge of immunology, virology, microbiology, cell culture, infectious disease pathogenesis, and medical countermeasure evaluation.
• Ability to independently design, execute, analyze, document, and report complex in vitro and in vivo research studies.
• Knowledge of BSL-2, BSL-3, and BSL-4 laboratory practices, biosurety requirements, controlled-substance accountability, and biological material safeguarding.
• Strong scientific writing, literature review, data interpretation, oral presentation, and publication skills.
• Ability to mentor junior staff, coordinate multidisciplinary research activities, and collaborate effectively with internal and external partners.
• Strong organizational skills for study documentation, laboratory supplies, sample storage, equipment inventory, inspection readiness, and monthly reporting.