Scientist II - Virologist

CFD Research Corporation•Huntsville, AL

14d•Onsite

About The Position

CFD Research is seeking a highly motivated scientist to join our Biotechnology and Life Sciences team, where they will play a critical role in advancing viral infection systems and in vitro models to better understand host–pathogen interactions and support antiviral development. The successful candidate will leverage hands-on expertise in mammalian cell culture, viral production, and molecular biology to design and execute experiments involving infectious agents, generate and validate viral stocks, and develop robust cell-based assays. This position offers the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research in a fast-paced, collaborative environment, with a strong emphasis on scientific rigor, biosafety, and high-quality data generation to support both internal programs and external partnerships.

Requirements

Candidate must be a US Citizen and meet eligibility to obtain (and maintain) a Secret Clearance
MS in Virology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Biomedical Science, or a closely related field
5+ years of experience in developing viral infection models
Hands-on experience working with mammalian viral systems (VEEV, LASV, influenza, coronaviruses, or similar)
Proficiency in mammalian cell culture, including sterile technique, passaging, transfection, and infection assays
Experience with virus production and titration (e.g., plaque assays, TCID50, qPCR-based titration, or ELISA)
Solid foundation in core molecular biology techniques (PCR, cloning, gel electrophoresis, sequencing, Western blot, ELISA)
Strong attention to detail, laboratory organization, and commitment to rigorous data documentation
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a small, fast-paced team

Nice To Haves

Experience with BSL-2 or BSL-3 containment and associated biosafety training
Experience with animal models of viral infection
Background in host-pathogen interaction studies or innate immune response characterization
Hands-on experience with pathogen infection in complex in vitro models
Demonstrated success in grant or proposal writing

Responsibilities

Design and execute experiments for developing/optimizing viral infection models
Perform virus production, titration, and quality control, including functional validation of viral stocks using standard quantitative methods
Maintain and culture a variety of mammalian cell lines; perform transduction, transfection, infection assays, and stable cell line generation
Develop and optimize in vitro infection models and cell-based assays to characterize viral replication, antiviral potency, tropism, and host-pathogen interactions
Execute molecular biology workflows including PCR, cloning, sequencing verification, Western blotting, ELISA, and fluorescence-based assays
Contribute to antiviral screening and functional assay development as needed
Maintain BSL-2 compliant laboratory practices; follow all biosafety protocols and contribute to a strong lab safety culture
Document experimental work thoroughly; contribute to internal technical reports, SOPs, and scientific publications