Microbiologist III (Diagnostic Microbiology Services)

Goldbelt, Inc.•Atlanta, GA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

As a Microbiologist III, the candidate will perform specified portions of scientific work involving research studies on biology, including studies of pathogenesis, host-pathogen interaction, vaccine efficacy, novel therapeutic (in vitro and in vivo) efficacy studies, as well as the development and/or improvement of diagnostic methods for the diagnosis of infections.

Requirements

Working knowledge of virology, microbiology, molecular biology, immunology, and laboratory research methods applicable to infectious disease and poxvirus studies.
Demonstrated laboratory experience with nucleic acid extraction, real-time PCR, tissue culture, viral inactivation, and serological or immunological assays.
Experience conducting in-vitro research in BSL-2 and/or BSL-3 laboratory environments while following established biosafety, biosecurity, and quality procedures.
Ability to propagate, maintain, and purify viruses and manage cell lines, viral variants, reference materials, and other biological reagents.
Experience developing, optimizing, or validating molecular diagnostic assays, including evaluation of extraction methods, master mixes, primers/probes, and other assay components.
Ability to develop and execute study plans, experimental protocols, validation activities, and inactivation testing under established scientific guidance.
Strong laboratory documentation and data-management skills, including maintenance of laboratory notebooks, protocols, reagent records, study documentation, and publication-quality results.
Ability to analyze and interpret experimental data in support of laboratory investigations, diagnostic assay evaluation, research studies, and outbreak-response activities.
Strong written and oral communication skills for preparing technical documentation, presenting research findings, and contributing to manuscripts and scientific reports.
Ability to train and provide technical guidance to laboratory personnel while supporting laboratory operations, reagent inventory, equipment, and research-space requirements.
Bachelors Degree in microbiology, virology, molecular biology, immunology, biotechnology, or a closely related scientific discipline.
3-5 years of relevant experience
Ability to obtain and maintain CDC Public Trust Clearance.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in microbiology, virology, molecular biology, immunology, biotechnology, or a closely related scientific discipline.
Approximately 5-7 years of relevant laboratory experience in virology, molecular diagnostics, infectious disease research, or public health laboratory science.
Direct experience working with poxviruses, orthopoxviruses, or other emerging or high-consequence viral pathogens.
Hands-on experience performing research or diagnostic activities in BSL-3 laboratories, including adherence to enhanced-containment procedures.
Experience supporting or participating in animal studies involving infectious agents, including processing and testing of animal-study specimens.
Demonstrated experience validating real-time PCR diagnostic assays, viral inactivation procedures, extraction platforms, or other molecular diagnostic methods.
Experience with specialized serological or immunological assays used to evaluate immune responses or infection in tissue culture or animal-study samples.
Experience leading portions of laboratory studies, troubleshooting experimental procedures, and coordinating research activities with multidisciplinary teams.
Experience training laboratory personnel or external researchers in molecular diagnostic, virology, or research assays.
Experience contributing to peer-reviewed manuscripts, abstracts, scientific presentations, or presentations at national or international conferences.
Prior experience with CDC.

Responsibilities

Perform basic in-vitro work, including viral inactivation, nucleic acid extractions, real-time PCR, and tissue culture techniques, along with more specialized serological and immunological assays for tissue culture and animal study samples infected with poxviruses.
Participate in and/or lead in-vitro studies performed in the BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratories.
Participate in poxvirus animal studies performed in the BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratories.
Perform research activities to improve, enhance, or develop new diagnostic assay developments with incorporation of advanced technologies.
Write complex study plans, test inactivation procedures, and validate different components (master mix, primers/probes manufactured from different companies and extraction platforms) for poxvirus PCR diagnostic assays.
Train other members of the laboratory or external laboratory researchers in diagnostic and research assays.
Maintain detailed laboratory records of activities including documentation fitting for submission of results for peer-reviewed publications.
Maintain cell lines, virus variants, and other reagents required for performance of poxvirus research activities.
Assist with ordering reagents and maintenance of laboratory space for conducting research activities.
Propagate and purify poxviruses for use in assays for validation of diagnostic assays and investigative purposes.
Analyze data relevant to laboratory investigations as well as outbreak response efforts.
Effectively communicate research activities by presentations in lab, team, and branch meetings.
Presentation of works at national / international conferences and preparation of manuscripts and research articles for publication.