Research Associate I

Research Associate I

Job ID: req4024
Employee Type: exempt full-time
Division: Applied & Development Research Program
Facility: Frederick: Ft Detrick
Location: PO Box B, Frederick, MD 21702 USA

The Frederick National Laboratory is a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and operated by Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc.  The lab addresses some of the most urgent and intractable problems in the biomedical sciences in cancer and AIDS, drug development and first-in-human clinical trials, applications of nanotechnology in medicine, and rapid response to emerging threats of infectious diseases.

Accountability, Compassion, Collaboration, Dedication, Integrity and Versatility; it's the FNL way.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Bioprocessing Laboratory integrates clinical and laboratory activities through biospecimen lifecycle management. The Bioprocessing Laboratory and Trial Logistics Support Group partners with intramural and extramural investigators to translate clinical workflows into practical specimen collection, processing, and storage procedures. These procedures result in high-quality, well-annotated specimens suitable for their primary purpose and as bioresource collections for future research.

KEY ROLES/RESPONSIBILITIES

The BioProcessing and Trial Logistics group is part of the Clinical Services Program (CSP) within the Applied/Developmental Research Directorate (ADRD) at the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research (FNLCR).  The Research Associate I position would primarily provide specimen processing support to an NIH-funded clinical project.

The core responsibilities of this position are:

• Responsible for performing work according to Standard Operating Procedures in a BL-2 environment
• Works according to established best practices for specimen handling and management
• Separation of human blood samples into sub fractions
• Isolation of buccal cells from mouthwash samples
• Creating specimen aliquots
• Work with a liquid handler to create urine aliquots
• Handling frozen material, using dry ice & specialized dry ice workstations
• Packaging specimens for transport
• General laboratory upkeep and ordering
• Daily use of Excel, Word, Outlook, project-specific dashboard, specimen inventory database
• Daily communication with team members & internal support groups

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

To be considered for this position, you must minimally meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below:

• Possession of Bachelor’s degree in a field related to biomedical research/clinical trials/health from an accredited college/university according to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or four (4) years relevant experience in lieu of degree. Foreign degrees must be evaluated for U.S. equivalency
• In addition to the education requirement, a minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible experience
• Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills
• Ability to lift 25 pounds routinely
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates with these desired skills will be given preferential consideration:

• Experience working with human biological specimens
• Prior experience with basic laboratory maintenance activities to maintain eyewash stations, freezers, and supply ordering records.
• Experience with Microsoft Suite, to include Excel, Word
• Previous experience with specimen inventory management software
• Previous experience with liquid handlers
• Previous experience in clinical studies
• Previous IATA certification

JOB HAZARDS

• This position is subject to working with or have potential for exposure to infectious material, requiring medical clearance and immunizations
• This position is considered a safety-sensitive position and will be subject to random drug testing per the Leidos Biomedical Research Drug Free Workplace Program

Commitment to Diversity
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.

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