Position Objective: Provide services as an Animal Biologist (Malaria) in support of the overall functions of the Vaccine Research Center (VRC) within the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist Veterinarian in malaria vaccine and pathology research.
• Oversee the design and implementation of malaria antibody and vaccine studies in mice.
• Help educate new staff for in vivo experiments in mice.
• Make detailed observations about experiments.
• Maintain clear and accurate documentation.
• Assist in the preparation of technical reports, summaries, and protocols.
• Perform specialized laboratory procedures: histology techniques, blood smear preparation, flow cytometry, malaria parasite quantification, in vivo mouse imaging with IVIS Spectrum system, digital image processing with Spectrum software.
• Provide prescribed treatments, animal surveillance, and environmental enrichment.
• Communicate all animal health abnormalities with Animal Program Director and scientific staff.
• Read and understand the VRC Animal Study Protocols.
• Perform or assist PI’s with a variety of technical procedures.
• Assist in the scheduling of technical requests.
• Perform injections via intravenous, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, intradermal, and/or intramuscular route.
• Collect blood samples, harvest tissue or organs using aseptic techniques, cell counts, peritoneal lavages, skin punch biopsies, and splenectomies, animal identification using ear punches or ear tags.
• Maintain mouse colonies, breeding, and weaning of offspring.
• Perform and monitor mouse sedation.
• Maintain Anopheles mosquito colonies.
• Infect Anopheles mosquitos with transgenic malaria pathogens.
• Dissect malaria parasites from mosquito salivary glands.
• Perform inoculations with malaria sporozoites for challenge studies.
• Perform malaria natural transmission studies.
• Prepare and submit animal health records.
• Maintain breeder log, and keep PI’s updated on colony status.
• Collect and organize data for research projects by maintaining database.

Basic Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Biology, Life Sciences or a related discipline. Two (2) years of specialized experience plus a BA/BS degree is equivalent to a Master’s degree.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience working in a laboratory environment.
• Demonstrates expertise in performing biological research.
• Demonstrates knowledge in managing and disposing of hazardous waste.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with non-technical and technical staff.
• Detail-oriented and possess strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize multiple tasks and projects

*This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required by this position.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

GAP Solutions provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need an accommodation to apply for a job, email us at recruiting@gapsi.com. You will need to reference the requisition number of the position in which you are interested. Your message will be routed to the appropriate recruiter who will assist you. Please note, this email address is only to be used for those individuals who need an accommodation to apply for a job. Emails for any other reason or those that do not include a requisition number will not be returned.

GAP Solutions is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, ethnicity, ancestry, color, sex, religion, creed, age, national origin, citizenship status, disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, and gender expression, familial status, political affiliation, genetic information, or any other legally protected status or characteristics.

This position is contingent upon contract award.