Laboratory Technician 4 - Infectious Disease Research Support - Chenega Corporation

Overview

Come join a company that strives for Extraordinary People and Exceptional Performance! Chenega Professional & Technical Services, LLC., a Chenega Professional Services’ company, is looking for a Laboratory Technician 4 - Infectious Disease Research Support.  The Laboratory Technician 4 shall provide laboratory support by assisting in the performance of aerosol exposures and animal research protocols as directed by AAT Leadership.  The technician shall execute scientific studies, analyze data, and maintain laboratory space and equipment.

Our company offers employees the opportunity to join a team where there is a robust employee benefits program, management engagement, quality leadership, an atmosphere of teamwork, recognition for performance, and promotion opportunities. We actively strive to channel our highly engaged employee’s knowledge, critical thinking, and determination to innovate scalable solutions for our clients. 

Responsibilities

• Generate, characterize and sample biological aerosols to support pathogenesis and medical countermeasure studies against biothreat agents. This shall include animal plethysmography, aerosol supervision and assisting, assaying, and decontaminations; attendance is required at scheduled trainings provided by qualified AAT staff. Workload is approximately 75-120 aerosol exposures per year.
• Investigate independently, and in collaboration with others, events during the phases of infection in representative laboratory animals prior to and following agent exposure.  Support all logistical and technical aspects of AAT supported animal protocols including but not limited to preparation of sample tubes, required supplies, and associated paperwork. Enter studies in the AAT Scheduling program to capture all required study activities. Follow study protocol and schedule to complete study activities as assigned to include but not limited to sample processing, aliquoting and inactivation. Studies will be conducted in a BSL-2, BSL-3, or BSL-4 laboratory environment. Workload is up to 20 protocols per year.  
• Perform assays to include viral and bacterial stock characterization, plating assays, ELISA, RT-PCR, microarray, cytokine analysis, and applicable in vitro sample analysis assays as required by approved in vivo and in vitro protocols.
• Perform clinical pathology evaluation such as hematology, clinical chemistry analysis, coagulation and similar, in support of approved animal protocols and NHP colony management operations.
• Maintain laboratory space and equipment. Record and document all equipment maintenance IAW USAMRIID SOPs and in compliance with GLP standards.
• Assist with SOP writing, revision and review to meet GLP requirements and assist in the generation of SOP risk assessments. Appropriately respond to regulatory audits and Corrective and Preventative Actions (CAPAs) within the required timelines. Workload is typically ten (10) to fifteen (15) SOPs and five (5) to ten (10) CAPAs per year.
• Coordinate and collaborate with AAT leadership and personnel to assist in the development and continuation of the AAT technical training program. Receive necessary training and once qualified by AAT leadership, assist in the training of other technical staff.
• Independently assemble, calibrate, and test telemetry systems; troubleshoot electronic and software communication issues, and independently perform telemetry support for animal studies in BSL-2, BSL-3, and BSL-4 biocontainment laboratory environments. Workload is approximately twenty (20) research studies per year.
• Operate and maintain the telemetry systems in a validated state for use in GLP animal studies. Approximately fifteen (15) to twenty-five (25) validated systems per year.
• Shall maintain a safe and secure storage and backup of all original data files; tabulate and analyze telemetry data and provide results to Telemetry Support Subject Matter Expert (SME) for review as needed.
• Shall maintain inventory of all telemetry system components to include hardware and software as needed.
• Shall assist in the operation and maintenance of telemetry systems (e.g., DSI, Stellar and NOTOCORD). Systems will be maintained in a validated state as required for use in GLP animal studies; and assist in the maintenance and validation of telemetry equipment as needed.
• Shall be trained in GLP and maintain records at that standard IAW all applicable regulations and USAMRIID SOPs.
• Shall assist in the coordination and collaboration with scientists and technical staff within the Institute to provide telemetry services to include assisting in the training of study personnel on basic telemetry functions and data review.
• Assist building 1412 Suite Supervisor by completing weekly/monthly details to include cleaning and ensuring equipment and safety requirements are completed and documented IAW all applicable regulations and USAMRIID SOPs.
• Timely report observations of safety or standard operating procedure non-compliance IAW applicable USAMRIID SOPs, guidance and regulations.
• Provide technical support to animal protocols as needed by performing animal observations, physicals, sample collection, and euthanasia as required. Successful completion of required training is required and provided by qualified Veterinary Medicine Division staff. All laboratory tasks shall be conducted under the guidance of a study PI and under the authority of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and in compliance with GLP standards. Studies will be conducted in a BSL-2, BSL-3, or BSL-4 laboratory environment.
• Other duties as assigned. 

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Immunology, Biology, or a related field. Master's degree preferred. 
• 4 years’ experience in a bacteriology laboratory
• Prior experience in BSL-3 or BSL-4 laboratories
• Prior clinical diagnostics and regulatory laboratory experience
• Must be eligible to obtain / hold required security clearance

Estimated Salary/Wage