Postdoctoral Fellow - Diagnostics and Countermeasures Branch

Responsibilities

• Participate in designing new protocols, including analysis of scientific literature and protocols, testing new reagents and assays to develop and validate a suite of advanced molecular methods to provide comprehensive pathogen detection and genome sequencing capability.
• Design, develop, evaluate and implement serological and molecular diagnostic assays to include ELISA, Real-Time PCR, next generation sequencing for detection and/or quantification of asymptomatic visceral leishmaniasis (or other pathogens of military interest) in a variety of specimen matrices.
• Lead the verification and validation laboratory of developed or cleared assays used to inform patient management or end point analyses for clinical research studies.
• Develop Standard Operation Procedures, work instructions for laboratory developed and cleared assays.
• Prepare written reports, abstracts for submission to scientific conferences, manuscripts for submission to scientific journals, and patent applications.
• Cook up and execute new initiatives and research projects with senior leadership and technical staff within LDL.
• Maintain compliance to CAP regulations.
• Aid in intramural and extramural applications for programmatic funding and grants proposals.
• Attend DCB and WRAIR meetings and seminars.
• Maintain a safe work environment.
• Provide collaborative assistance to other Research Scientists that require the incumbent's expertise.
• May perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned or directed by the supervisor.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in molecular biology, virology, immunology or related scientific discipline to include principles of development/execution of molecular and serological assays for clinical applications.
• Minimum of 0-5 years experience required.