Associate Scientist – Formulation Development Grou

Position Title: Associate Scientist – Formulation Development Group, Full-Time
Contract Duration: 12-month base period with renewable option periods
Location: Gaithersburg, Maryland
Department: Veritas Management Group/NIH SOAR

Summary

Veritas Management Group (VMG) is a leading management consulting firm offering solutions to complex challenges involving public health, technology, and military domains. We serve government and commercial sector organizations, academic institutions, and non-profit organizations, domestically and globally. We are committed to transforming public health through equitable, data-driven solutions.

VMG is seeking an Associate Scientist – Formulation Development Group to support the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). This position supports formulation development and stability studies for vaccines and biotherapeutics by conducting laboratory experiments, generating and analyzing analytical data, performing biophysical characterization studies, and supporting formulation and method development activities.

The ideal candidate will have experience in protein or vaccine formulation, analytical characterization, and laboratory research, with the ability to work independently in a collaborative scientific environment supporting the development of vaccines and biologic therapeutics.

Key Responsibilities

• Execute formulation and stability studies for vaccines and biotherapeutics under the direction of senior scientific staff.
• Coordinate analytical sample generation, testing, and data collection for formulation development studies.
• Independently generate, analyze, and interpret experimental data using standard and advanced analytical techniques.
• Perform formulation development studies supporting vaccine and biotherapeutic characterization.
• Operate, maintain, troubleshoot, and coordinate external servicing of laboratory instrumentation.
• Analyze, organize, and present analytical data to project teams and department leadership.
• Prepare technical reports documenting formulation, stability, and method development studies.
• Draft and review routine stability study protocols under the guidance of senior scientists.
• Maintain laboratory samples, reagents, supplies, and equipment in accordance with laboratory procedures.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary project teams to support formulation development initiatives.
• Present research findings and project updates during laboratory meetings and scientific discussions.
• Support continuous improvement of laboratory methods, analytical procedures, and documentation practices.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related scientific discipline.
• Minimum of one (1) year of industry, government, or equivalent experience in protein formulation or a related field (Master's thesis may satisfy this requirement).
• Hands-on experience in one or more of the following:
  • Protein or vaccine formulation
  • Protein or vaccine stability
  • Biophysical characterization
  • Bioanalytical development
• Experience using one or more of the following analytical techniques:
  • UV-visible spectroscopy
  • Fluorescence spectroscopy
  • Circular Dichroism (CD)
  • Infrared (IR) spectroscopy
  • Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)
  • Particle characterization techniques, including light scattering, HIAC, or Micro-Flow Imaging (MFI)
• Knowledge of protein structural properties.
• Experience analyzing data using software such as Microsoft Excel, GraphPad Prism, SigmaPlot, or similar analytical platforms.
• Strong written, oral, and presentation skills.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to work independently while contributing to multidisciplinary scientific teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting vaccine formulation or biopharmaceutical development programs.
• Experience working in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or government laboratory environments.
• Knowledge of protein stability assessment and analytical method development.
• Experience with formulation optimization and characterization of biologic products.
• Experience supporting NIH or other federally funded biomedical research programs.

Work Environment

• Full-time position (40 hours per week).
• Monday through Friday schedule.
• Position is located in Gaithersburg, Maryland.
• Telework is available in accordance with government approval.
• Laboratory environment supporting formulation development and vaccine research.
• Position requires handling laboratory chemicals, analytical instrumentation, and scientific equipment while following established laboratory safety procedures.