Lead Research Microbiologist

About the role

This position is located in the Department of Health and Human Services, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The announcement will close at 11:59 PM on the day that 50 applications have been received or on the closing date, whichever comes first.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior scientist and nationally recognized technical authority in viral diagnostics.
• Develop, implement, optimize, validate, and troubleshoot molecular and genomic assays for research and surveillance applications (e.g., Sanger sequencing, Next‑Generation Sequencing, bioinformatics analysis and pipeline development, molecular genomics).
• Communicate and collaborate with internal and external partners including international ministries of health/laboratories, state and local public health laboratories and epidemiologists, public health agencies/societies (e.g., CSTE, APHL), and/or NGO partners.
• Plan, design, and lead basic and applied research studies, particularly related to the development of novel diagnostics for viruses that cause human diseases.
• Lead a team of laboratory staff and direct them toward projects and tasks related to the Branch’s priorities.

Qualifications

• Basic Qualifications: You must possess one of the following:
  • A. A degree in microbiology; or biology, chemistry, or basic medical science that includes at least 20 semester hours in microbiology and related subjects, and 20 semester hours in the physical and mathematical sciences (organic chemistry or biochemistry, physics, college algebra) or equivalent.
  • B. A combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major as shown in A, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
• Minimum Qualifications: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS‑13 level in Federal service, including all of the following:
  • Serving as a senior scientist and nationally recognized technical authority in viral diagnostics.
  • Developing, implementing, optimizing, validating, and troubleshooting molecular and genomic assays for research and surveillance applications (e.g., Sanger sequencing, Next‑Generation Sequencing, bioinformatics analysis and pipeline development, molecular genomics).
  • Communicating and collaborating with a variety of internal and external partners including international ministries of health/laboratories, state and local public health laboratories and epidemiologists, public health agencies/societies (e.g., CSTE, APHL), and/or NGO partners.
  • Planning, designing, and leading basic and applied research studies, particularly as related to development of novel diagnostics for viruses that cause human diseases.
  • Leading a team of laboratory staff and directing them toward projects and tasks related to the Branch’s priorities.