Research Scientist III

Leidos•Natick, MA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Leidos Defense Sector is seeking a highly motivated Research Scientist to join our team in Natick, MA supporting the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center (CCDC-SC). This role offers an exceptional opportunity to apply your scientific expertise in support of the U.S. Army’s mission to advance food protection, innovative packaging, and soldier sustainment technologies.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology or a related technical discipline and 4+ years of relevant experience (Additional experience, training, or certifications may substitute for degree requirements.)
Ability to obtain and maintain a government Common Access Card (CAC)
Demonstrated experience with spectral or microscopy imaging and data analysis
Hands-on experience with bacterial and viral propagation, enumeration, and culturing
Proficiency with data analysis tools such as GraphPad, SAS, or equivalent
Experience generating, analyzing, and interpreting benchtop spectral imaging data
Prior work in a BSL‑2 laboratory, including safe handling and disposal of pathogenic organisms
Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple concurrent tasks
Excellent analytical, technical, and problem‑solving skills
Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Microbiology or a related technical field with 2+ years of relevant experience
Experience working with military food systems or commodities
Strong communication skills and demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex scientific challenges

Responsibilities

Spectral Imaging & Contamination Detection Collaborate with the Food Protection and Innovative Packaging team to identify potential contamination on diverse surfaces using spectral imaging technologies.
Conduct inoculation trials, perform efficacy studies, generate spectral images, and interpret imaging data to validate pathogen reduction treatments.
Analyze spectral signatures to support contamination detection and quality assessment.
Food Quality & Degradation Studies Support spectral imaging research on operational ration components, fresh produce, and other food items.
Correlate imaging results with indicators of product quality, freshness, and degradation.
Pathogen Reduction & Treatment Validation Design and execute bacterial and viral reduction studies using sanitizers, UV‑C, and combinations of multiple treatment methods.
Perform pathogen propagation, data collection/analysis, and determine next‑step experimental directions based on results.