Scientist I, Cellular Biologist

Job ID: req3914
Employee Type: exempt full-time
Division: Applied & Development Research Program
Facility: Frederick: Ft Detrick
Location: PO Box B, Frederick, MD 21702 USA

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.

Accountability, Compassion, Collaboration, Dedication, Integrity and Versatility; it's the FNL way.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Laboratory of Human Retrovirology and Immunoinformatics (LHRI), Applied and Developmental Research Directorate, consists of three sections (Basic Research, Clinical/Translational Research, and Bioinformatics) and has investigated HIV and AIDS-related virus pathogenesis in vitro and HIV translational research using molecular biology, cellular biology, virology, and bioinformatics techniques. LHRI has defined novel mechanisms of drug resistance and viral fitness in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and novel Innate immune responses against RNA or DNA virus infection. We also identified IL-27 as an anti-viral cytokine and developed and maintained DAVID, a functional annotation tool (https://david.ncifcrf.gov/). The research aims to understand the regulatory mechanism of HIV replication and the function of defective viruses (DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1917876117, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1609057113). These studies are associated with developing novel immune therapies to support NIAID clinical studies for PLWHA infected with multiple-class drug resistance. LHRI seeks a productive and creative scientist familiar with molecular and cellular biology and eager to learn retrovirology.

KEY ROLES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• The Scientist should be capable of independently designing experiments in cellular and molecular biology, but do not have responsibilities for initiating new research projects
• Will perform multiple assays in ongoing projects under the lab head in the Basic Research Section to expand the scientific knowledge behind HIV and HIV-related virus infection/replication/persistence
• In job tasks, multiples techniques will be applied:
  • Tissue culture, WB, Immune precipitation, Zeiss confocal microscope, Zeiss fluorescence microscope, live cell image analysis, AMNIS, Isoplexis: single cell proteomics, 10xGenomic Chromium, RNA-seq using Nextseq 2000, SeqStudio, QuantStudio, Absolute Q DNA digital PCR, qRT-PCR, RNA scope, Quaterex SR-X Biomarker Detection System, NanoSight, FRET, alpha screening, FPLC Akta
    • Note: unfamiliar techniques will be trained by other Sr. Staff in the lab.
• Publishing paper(s) with first or co-authorship and presenting the findings in international or domestic scientific conference(s)

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

To be considered for this position, you must minimally meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below:

• Possession of a PhD degree from an accredited college or university according to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or eight (8) years of related experience. Foreign degrees must be evaluated for U.S. equivalency
• No work experience required with a Doctorate degree
• Publication(s) in a peer-reviewed journal during the PDF period
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates with these desired skills will be given preferential consideration:

• One to 2 years of postdoctoral (PDF) experience.
• Knowledge of function virology and cellular immunology
• RNA handling, including in vitro RNA transcription and RNA transfection
• Gene cloning, construction of expression vectors, transfection, gene editing, knockdown or knock-in using siRNA or CRISPR), cell cloning, and cell culture (primary T cells and cell lines)

JOB HAZARDS

• This position is subject to working with or have potential for exposure to infectious material, requiring medical clearance and immunizations

Commitment to Diversity
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.

#readytowork