Biosafety and Biosecurity Analyst

The Mitre Corporation•McLean, VA

4d•$119,500 - $179,500•Onsite

About The Position

MITRE Technology and Engineering is seeking a Biosafety and Biosecurity Analyst to support multidisciplinary scientific and technical reviews of life sciences research with potential biosafety, biosecurity, public health, and national security implications. The role involves evaluating and synthesizing scientific and technical information, identifying key considerations and information gaps, and developing decision-support products in collaboration with senior staff and subject matter experts. The analyst coordinates review activities from initial intake through documentation, resolution, and follow-up. This includes planning and executing meetings, coordinating participants and expertise, preparing materials, managing logistics, documenting deliberations, tracking actions, and maintaining records and status information. The position also contributes to a broader portfolio involving biological risk, biodefense, health security, emerging biotechnology, and related national security challenges, while continuing to develop relevant expertise. The position requires at least three days per week on-site. The hired candidate must obtain a Top Secret/SCI clearance within one year of hire. Candidates must be U.S. citizens to be eligible for a security clearance.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and at least 5 years of related experience; a master’s degree and at least 3 years of related experience; a Ph.D. with relevant experience and ability to contribute immediately at this job step; or an equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
Academic background and demonstrated professional experience in infectious disease, microbiology, virology, molecular biology, biomedical sciences, public health, biosafety, biosecurity, or a related discipline.
Knowledge of infectious disease and scientific principles relevant to biological research, with the ability to critically evaluate complex life sciences research and identify potential biological risks.
Knowledge of biosafety and biosecurity principles and experience applying them to life sciences research, research oversight, risk assessment, or related activities.
Knowledge of and ability to apply U.S. policies, frameworks, or guidance related to dangerous gain-of-function research, biosafety, and biosecurity.
Experience applying risk assessment or risk management approaches to life sciences research and emerging biotechnologies.
Ability to independently evaluate and synthesize complex scientific and technical information, identify key considerations and information gaps, and determine when additional expertise or analysis is needed.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop clear technical summaries, briefing materials, and other written products for technical and nontechnical audiences.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, including the ability to coordinate multiple activities, maintain accurate documentation, and meet deadlines.
Ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and communicate effectively with scientific and technical subject matter experts.
Ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion when working with sensitive scientific and technical information.
Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI U.S. Government-issued security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required for security-clearance eligibility.
Must work on-site at least three days per week.

Nice To Haves

Professional experience related to biosafety, biosecurity, biological risk assessment, biodefense, health security, or oversight of life sciences research.
Experience conducting or leading risk assessments involving infectious disease research, biological agents, emerging biotechnology, or other potentially high-consequence life sciences research.
Experience evaluating scientific literature or research involving infectious agents, host-pathogen interactions, pathogenicity, transmissibility, virulence, and other characteristics relevant to biological risk.
Experience leading or coordinating scientific or technical reviews, advisory groups, working groups, or other multidisciplinary technical activities.
Experience supporting or participating in research compliance committees, such as institutional biosafety committees, institutional review entities, institutional animal care and use committees, or institutional review boards.
Experience synthesizing multidisciplinary technical deliberations and translating findings into assessments, recommendations, or other decision-support products.
Ability to develop new subject matter expertise quickly and apply it across multiple projects or problem areas.
Ability to work independently on complex and ambiguous problems, exercise technical judgment, and identify appropriate paths forward.

Responsibilities

Contribute to multidisciplinary scientific and technical reviews of life sciences research with potential biosafety, biosecurity, public health, or national security implications.
Evaluate and synthesize scientific and technical information to identify key considerations, information gaps, and areas requiring additional analysis.
Develop technical summaries, background and briefing materials, assessments, recommendations, and other decision-support products in collaboration with senior staff and subject matter experts.
Communicate complex scientific, risk, and policy information to technical and nontechnical audiences.
Coordinate scientific and technical review activities from initial intake through review, documentation, resolution, and follow-up.
Plan and execute review meetings, including coordinating participants and technical expertise, preparing materials, managing logistics, documenting deliberations and outcomes, and tracking follow-up actions.
Engage with review participants to obtain necessary information, resolve questions, and facilitate timely completion of review activities.
Maintain accurate records, status information, metrics, and supporting documentation.
Contribute expertise to work involving biological risk, biodefense, health security, emerging biotechnology, and related national security challenges.
Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to address complex scientific, technical, and policy problems, and continue developing expertise to meet sponsor challenges.