Senior Bacterial Core Technician

Join the HJF Team!

HJF is seeking a Senior Bacterial Core Technician to preform research and/or development in collaboration with other scientific and technical staff. Contractor shall be responsible for BSL-3 laboratory operations and training in animal manipulations. Contract technicians shall perform approximately 5 animal studies in both the DTRA funded projects as well as contracted work.

This position will be in support of United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) Technical Research Support Services located at Fort Detrick in Frederick, MD. USAMRIID works closely with other U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC) organizations, Department of Defense (DoD), the Interagency (including Interagency Laboratories), and private companies to accomplish its mission of protecting the Warfighter from biological threats and being prepared to investigate disease outbreaks or threats to public health. This includes conducting Research, Development, Testing, & Evaluation (RDTE) of medical countermeasure against biological threats and the safety, quality assurance, project management, and core support required for these research activities.

The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (HJF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing military medicine. We serve military, medical, academic and government clients by administering, managing and supporting preeminent scientific programs that benefit members of the armed forces and civilians alike. Since its founding in 1983, HJF has served as a vital link between the military medical community and its federal and private partners. HJF's support and administrative capabilities allow military medical researchers and clinicians to maintain their scientific focus and accomplish their research goals.

• Contractor shall perform in vitro Minimum Inhibition Concentration (MIC) testing of potential therapeutic compounds against Tier 1 bacteria. We currently utilize 30-strain diversity sets of Bacillus anthracis (anthrax), Yersinia pestis (plague), Francisella tularensis (tularemia), Burkholderia mallei (glanders), and Burkholderia pseudomallei (meliodosis), testing over 72 compounds per year against all 30 strains, in vitro.
• Participate in mouse, rat, rabbit, or other small animal studies, which include preparation of antibiotics for administration, administering drugs and vaccines, orally and by intraperitoneal, intramuscular, subcutaneous, and intravenous bolus injections. In addition, collect animal body fluids and remove tissues with all small animal studies executed. Upon execution of experiment all Contractors shall perform animal health exams to ensure study remains in compliance with IACUC approved protocols.
• Contractor shall participate in weekly lab meetings and assist in development and design with current and future in vitro and in vivo work. May be requested to present posters at 1 scientific conference which may require CONUS or OCONUS travel and work to be performed outside normal business hours.
• Participate in mouse, rat, rabbit, or other small animal BSL-2 pharmacokinetics and toxicology studies; to include preparation of antibiotics for administration; administering drugs and vaccines, followed by blood and tissue collection for pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic analyses.
• Support the in vivo pharmacology research program and contribute to the multidisciplinary research team to determine pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics relationships and efficacy of optimized leads.
• Contractor shall assist with data analyses and drafting of reports for internal or external customers.
• Work with mass spectrometry, chromatography, HPLC MS/MS, specifically Sciex platforms coupled with Shimadzu HPLCs other and biophysical techniques to support in-process testing and characterization of biopharmaceutical products and impurities.
• Perform bioanalytical data acquisition, data analysis, and reporting of results using Applied Biosystems Analyst, Excel, and the Mass Spec Quantitation Software MultiQuant.
• Contractor shall complete approximately 25 media/reagent preparations per year.
• Contractor shall assist with approximately 5 animal challenges per year and 10 bacterial challenge preparations.
• Contractor shall perform approximately 400 animal injections per year; 400 animal observations per year.
• Contractor shall support divisional in vivo projects by completing approximately 500 bacterial burdens in animal tissue per year.
• Contractor shall perform approximately 500 small animal necropsies per year.
• Contractor shall process approximately 300 animal gavage and approximately 125 animal blood collections per year.
• Contractor shall place approximately 50 GFEBs orders per year for supplies and equipment.
• Contractor shall maintain laboratories in BSL-2 and BSL-3.
• Contractor shall perform or assist with BSAT Inventory Management weekly (to include applicable BSAT working stock material).
• Contractor shall conduct or assist with Equipment Inventory Management twice a year in BSL-2 and BSL-3.
• Contractor shall perform or assist with monthly Laboratory Management to include safety functions and chemical inventory.
• The Contractor shall review relevant literature monthly. May assist in the preparation standard operating procedures and manuscripts relating to their research efforts. The Contractor may be expected to present research findings at one scientific conference per year, which may require CONUS or OCONUS travel. Contractor shall present results in written and oral format publicly and internally as requested.
• Contractor shall maintain a GLP training folder and be compliant with all GLP regulations when applicable.
• Contractor shall directly contribute to the design, rationale, and be point-of-contact for 10 small animal studies to include drafting of a study plan and oversight of personnel scheduling.
• Contractor shall contribute to study progress reports and scientific manuscripts to include statistical analysis, data compilation, figure preparation, and methods summary.
• Contractor shall assist in establishing up to 28 new active material transfer agreements and cooperative research and development agreements with up to 8 pharmaceutical companies and/or universities. Contractor shall maintain records of active agreements and collaborations.
• CS-PRP enrollment is required and shall be held and maintained IAW the provisions in this contract and all applicable regulations.
• BPRP enrollment is required and shall be held and maintained IAW the provisions in this contract and all applicable regulations

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's Degree and 7 years' related experience or Master's Degree with a 3 years' related experience required

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of complex laboratory procedures
• Ability to meet deadlines of projects
• Good communication and analytical skills.
• US Citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a T3/Secret Clearance and BRPR, CPRP, and/or CSPRP, including background check and drug screening.

Physical Capabilities

• Maintain sufficient health to meet enrollment criteria and maintain eligibility in USAMRIID's Biological Personnel Reliability Program (BPRP), Chemical Personnel Reliability Program (CPRP) and/or Controlled Substances Personnel Reliability Program (CSPRP).
• Current on routine adult immunizations or proof of active immunity against HBV, MMR, Influenza, COVID-19, Tdap. Employees working directly with patients or research participants must receive a negative TB test.
• Lifting: Requires lifting materials up to 10 lbs.
• Ability to stand or sit at a computer for prolonged periods.

Work Environment

• This position will take place primarily in a laboratory setting.

Compensation

• The annual salary range for this position is $57,650 - $93,100. Actual salary will be determined based on experience, education, etc.

Benefits

• HJF offers a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on your health and well-being, from medical, dental, and vision coverage to health savings and retirement plans, and more.

Employment with HJF is contingent upon successful completion of a background check, which may include, but is not limited to, contacting your professional references, verification of previous employment, education and credentials, a criminal background check, and a department of motor vehicle (DMV) check if applicable. Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents, in lieu of stated minimums, require the prior approval of the Chief Human Resources Officer.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents, in lieu of stated minimums, require the prior approval of the Chief Human Resources Officer.