PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Frederick National Laboratory is a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and operated by Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc. The lab addresses some of the most urgent and intractable problems in the biomedical sciences in cancer and AIDS, drug development and first-in-human clinical trials, applications of nanotechnology in medicine, and rapid response to emerging threats of infectious diseases.
The Vaccine, Immunity, and Cancer Directorate (VICD) at the Frederick National Laboratory has a primary mission to provide scientific leadership and laboratory infrastructure to study immune responses to Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines and other cancer preventive strategies in the context of clinical and pre-clinical studies. More recently, VICD is also leading initiatives on SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccines.
The mission of the Cancer ImmunoPrevention Lab (CIPL) within the VICD is to serve as a reference and technical support laboratory, performing work necessary to advance successful immunoprevention concepts such as cancer vaccines in preclinical development towards the ultimate goal of IND and clinical evaluation.
KEY ROLES/RESPONSIBILITIES
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Perform tissue culture and immunological/virological techniques, including aseptic techniques, cell line maintenance, production of plasmids and virus-like particles.
- Produce RNA constructs through in vitro transcription, then test antigen expression through mass spectrometry and Western blot.
- Optimize and validate procedures and methodologies for assessment of immune responses to infection and vaccines.
- Plan and conduct experiments in mouse vaccine models.
- Perform immunological assays that include ELISA, ELISPOT, Luminex assays, flow cytometry, cell-based neutralization assays, immunohistochemistry.
- Design and implement protocols, as well as troubleshoot assays and experiments independently.
- Evaluate, analyze and compile data, maintain databases.
- Responsible for routine QC/QA procedures, ordering supplies, and maintaining equipment and inventories.
- Prepare reports, present data and participate in report and proposal preparation.
- Remain current on literature and relevant laboratory techniques.
- May supervise lab personnel.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
To be considered for this position, you must minimally meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below:
- Possession of a Bachelor's degree in immunology, vaccinology, or molecular biology or related field from an accredited college/university according to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education). Foreign degrees must be evaluated for U.S. equivalency.
- In addition to the education requirement, a minimum of eight (8) years related biomedical laboratory experience.
- Detailed knowledge of vaccines, immunology, and virology.
- Expertise in tissue culture and immunological/virological techniques, including aseptic techniques, cell line maintenance, production of plasmids and virus-like particles, Western blot, ELISA, ELISPOT, Luminex assays, flow cytometry, virus neutralization assays and PCR.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Candidates with these desired skills will be given preferential consideration:
- MS or Ph.D. in immunology, vaccinology, virology or molecular biology.
- Experience managing personnel and lab operation.
- Experience in immune assays (ELISA, ELISPOT, flow cytometry) development and validation.
- Experience handling large data sets, statistics, software tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Expertise in molecular biology techniques including plasmid DNA cloning, RNA synthesis, sequencing, microarray, single cell genomics, RNASeq.
- Experience using robotics.
JOB HAZARDS
- This position is subject to working with or have potential for exposure to infectious material, requiring medical clearance and immunizations.
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