Research Associate IV - Aerosol

Chenega Corporation•Frederick, MD

About The Position

Come join a company that strives for Extraordinary People and Exceptional Performance! Chenega Professional & Technical Services, LLC., a Chenega Professional Services’ company, is looking for a Laboratory Technician 4. The Laboratory Technician shall provide laboratory support by assisting in the performance of aerosol exposures and animal research protocols as directed by AAT Leadership. The Contractor shall execute scientific studies, analyze data, and maintain laboratory space and equipment. 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.

Requirements

Attention to details; accurate record keeping; willingness to work in BSL-2 and BSL-3 high containment laboratories
Ability to plan, troubleshoot, and execute laboratory studies and equipment in a highly regulated environment
Ability to work in a matrixed, team-oriented environment involving multiple projects

Nice To Haves

Preferred Master’s degree or the equivalent in Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Immunology, Biology, or a related field
Preferred 4 years’ experience in a bacteriology laboratory
Preferred prior experience in BSL-3 or BSL-4 laboratories
Preferred prior clinical diagnostics and regulatory laboratory experience
Preferred experience in BSL3 or BSL 4 environments
Preferred experience with animal inoculations, tissue collection and conduct bleeding
Preferred experience in basic cell culture, plaque assays, plaque reduction neutralization test, PCR, ELISA, Western Blot and clinical laboratory tests on animal samples
Prepare cloning plasmids, sequencing reactions and plasmid preparations
Experience injecting animals
Experience with animal gavage and blood collection
Prepared media
Experience with isolating and purifying DNA specimens
Process bacterial spore harvests
Ability to perform antibody determinations
Measure cytokines in cell cultures and cell extracts
Complete toxin neutralization assays

Responsibilities

Generate, characterize and sample biological aerosols to support pathogenesis and medical countermeasure studies against biothreat agents. This shall include animal plethysmography, aerosol supervision and assisting, assaying, and decontaminations; attendance is required at scheduled trainings provided by qualified AAT staff. Workload is approximately 75-120 aerosol exposures per year.
Investigate independently, and in collaboration with others, events during the phases of infection in representative laboratory animals prior to and following agent exposure. Support all technical aspects of animal protocols including but not limited to performing animal observations, physicals, sample collection, sample processing, and euthanasia as required; attendance is required at scheduled trainings provided by qualified Veterinary Medicine Division staff. All laboratory tasks shall be conducted under the guidance of a study PI and under the authority of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and in compliance with GLP standards. Studies will be conducted in a BSL-2, BSL-3, or BSL-4 laboratory environment. Workload is up to 20 protocols per year.
Perform assays to include viral and bacterial stock characterization, plating assays, ELISA, RT-PCR, microarray, cytokine analysis, and applicable in vitro sample analysis assays as required by approved in vivo and in vitro protocols.
Perform clinical pathology evaluation such as hematology, clinical chemistry analysis, coagulation and similar, in support of approved animal protocols and NHP colony management operations.
Maintain laboratory space and equipment. Record and document all equipment maintenance IAW USAMRIID SOPs and in compliance with GLP standards.
Assist with SOP writing, revision and review to meet GLP requirements and assist in the generation of SOP risk assessments. Contractor will appropriately respond to regulatory audits and Corrective and Preventative Actions (CAPAs) within the required timelines. Workload is typically ten (10) to fifteen (15) SOPs and five (5) to ten (10) CAPAs per year.
Contractor shall coordinate and collaborate with AAT leadership and personnel to assist in the development and continuation of the AAT technical training program. Contract staff will receive necessary training and once qualified by AAT leadership, assist in the training of other technical staff.
Contractor shall independently assemble, calibrate, and test telemetry systems; troubleshoot electronic and software communication issues, and independently perform telemetry support for animal studies in BSL-2, BSL-3, and BSL-4 biocontainment laboratory environments. Workload is approximately twenty (20) research studies per year.
Contractor shall operate and maintain the telemetry systems in a validated state for use in GLP animal studies. Approximately fifteen (15) to twenty-five (25) validated systems per year.
Shall maintain a safe and secure storage and backup of all original data files; tabulate and analyze telemetry data and provide results to Telemetry Support Subject Matter Expert (SME) for review as needed.
Shall maintain inventory of all telemetry system components to include hardware and software as needed.
Shall assist in the operation and maintenance of telemetry systems (e.g., DSI, Stellar and NOTOCORD). Systems will be maintained in a validated state as required for use in GLP animal studies; and assist in the maintenance and validation of telemetry equipment as needed.
Shall be trained in GLP and maintain records at that standard IAW all applicable regulations and USAMRIID SOPs.
Shall assist in the coordination and collaboration with scientists and technical staff within the Institute to provide telemetry services to include assisting in the training of study personnel on basic telemetry functions and data review.
Other duties as assigned.