Position Objective: Provide services as a Biologist (Mice/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:

• Manage the execution of in vivo rodent research within the Malaria Insectary Facility.
• Perform a variety of procedures and techniques including (but not limited to) Plasmodium sporozoite dissection, in vitro functional assays, molecular cloning, PCR, cell culture, recombinant protein production, and multi-parameter flow cytometry.
• Expand and maintain mosquito cultures according to established protocols.
• Monitor the infection status of mosquitoes: blood feeding, natural transmission, and parasite isolations.
• Maintain malaria infected mosquito colonies and conduct in vivo malaria challenge experiments in rodents.
• Conduct pre-clinical evaluation (PK and PD experiments) for malaria vaccines and monoclonal antibodies in animal models.
• Develop methods to evaluate the protective effect of vaccines and mAbs in malaria in vivo models (via bioluminescence, immune- and clinical pathology analysis.
• Design rodent malaria layouts/challenges to establish new protocols, procedures, doses and risks for malaria experiments with the objective of providing data sets that support safe human testing.
• Proficiently perform common and specialized in vivo technical procedures necessary to maintain the progress of in vivo malaria experiments.
• Plan, execute, and arrange relevant experiments, techniques and procedures within appropriate quality standards and timelines.
• Regularly participate in meetings that are conducted to define vaccine development, antibodies, and manuscript publications on the area of malaria.
• Meticulously collect, analyze, interpret, and report data for presentations, reports, and publications from diverse malaria experiments.
• Record all procedures and research project data, data analyses, and analytical conclusions of analyses in government-authorized notebooks and electronic systems in accordance with applicable regulations and procedures.
• Monitor and maintain inventory of routine laboratory supplies to ensure maximum efficiency; make recommendations and prepare purchase requests as needed.
• Perform routine maintenance of the lab work area and specialized instruments and equipment.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Minimum of four (4) years of related work experience.
• Requires extensive experience with relevant laboratory practices, materials, and practice.
• Must have hands on proficiency with common in vivo technical procedures in mice (compound administration, sample collection, imaging, surgery).
• Must have basic skills in applicable computer programs.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Preferred experience in the following techniques is highly desirable: preclinical malaria mouse challenge models, mosquito salivary gland/midgut dissection, IVIS in vivo imaging, multi- parameter flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy, antibody/protein purification and characterization, ELISA, ELISPOT.
• Must strictly adhere to safety standards and lab policies and maintain compliance with necessary training.
• Must be able to work well both independently and with others on a team.
• Must be able to maintain high level of organization, accuracy and attention to detail.
• Must be able to make detailed observations, analyze data, and interpret results independently.
• Must be able to apply creative problem-solving skills and sound judgment in making timely decisions.
• Requires flexibility to handle multiple tasks and provide support for multiple projects in a fast- paced laboratory environment.
• 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.