Biomarker Specialist

ICF • Rockville, MD

3d • Remote

About The Position

ICF is seeking a Biomarker Specialist to support the design, implementation, and quality assurance of biomarker and laboratory components of large-scale household surveys in low- and middle-income countries. The specialist will provide technical leadership, training, and oversight to ensure high-quality field and laboratory data collection.

Requirements

• Master's degree, PhD, or medical degree in biomedical sciences, laboratory sciences, public health, epidemiology, molecular biology, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in biomarker, laboratory, public health, or survey research.
• Experience supporting field-based specimen collection or laboratory testing programs.
• Experience working with international organizations, government agencies, or research institutions.
• Knowledge of specimen collection, biosafety, specimen handling, and laboratory quality assurance and quality control.
• Familiarity with rapid diagnostic tests, immunoassays, molecular diagnostics, and related laboratory methods.
• Strong training, facilitation, technical writing, communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.
• Experience providing in-person and virtual technical assistance.
• Fluency in English.

Nice To Haves

• Fluency in French, Portuguese, Spanish, or another international language.
• Experience with large-scale household surveys or public health surveillance programs.
• Experience with dried blood spots, molecular diagnostics, genomic surveillance, or drug-resistance monitoring.
• Phlebotomy and biological specimen collection skills.
• Knowledge of malaria microscopy and blood film preparation.
• Experience with anthropometry standardization and field quality assurance.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for biomarker and laboratory activities throughout survey planning, implementation, analysis, and dissemination.
• Develop protocols, standard operating procedures, training materials, and quality assurance procedures.
• Train and mentor field staff, biomarker technicians, laboratory personnel, and in-country trainers.
• Support anthropometry, specimen collection (capillary and venous blood), rapid diagnostic testing, blood pressure measurement, and other biomarker activities.
• Oversee specimen handling, transport, laboratory testing, quality control, and data review.
• Support dried blood spot collection, molecular diagnostics, genomic surveillance, and drug-resistance monitoring, as applicable.
• Coordinate biomarker supplies, laboratory consumables, and equipment.
• Conducting assessments of host-country laboratories to determine the labs’ capacity to carry out biomarker testing.
• Collaborate with government agencies, laboratories, donors, and partners to strengthen local capacity and support successful implementation.

Benefits

• Reasonable Accommodations are available, including, but not limited to, for disabled veterans, individuals with disabilities, and individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs, in all phases of the application and employment process.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior