Microbiologist IV

Description

JOB TITLE: Microbiologist IV

POSITION NUMBER: 2408-73111-MIV-T21X2

POSITION LOCATION: Atlanta, GA, USA

ANTICIPATED START DATE: Two weeks after candidate identification

TRAVEL: As required to fulfill the responsibilities of the position

ASRT, Inc. provides scientific, information management, management consulting, bioinformatics, and administrative program support to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other Federal and private sector clients. The successful candidate will be a full-time employee of ASRT, Inc. and will be assigned to the Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases (MVPDB), National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), at the CDC, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA, to support to the Bacterial Meningitis Laboratory (BML), Quality Management team and M&O team within MVPDB.

SCOPE OF WORK

The Microbiologist IV will provide scientific and laboratory support within the MVPDB, providing support services method development and molecular typing systems to improve bacterial meningitis genomic surveillance.

Major Duties And Responsibilities

• Support projects to monitor the molecular epidemiology of meningococcal and Haemophilus infuenzae disease, serogroup B meningococcal vaccine antigens, and population genetics of bacterial meningitis pathogens.
• Provide support for meningitis outbreak responses and applied research projects to advance our understanding of meningococcal disease and carriage as well as genomics, strain evolution and transmission, virulence factors, and antibiotic resistance of common bacterial meningitis pathogens.
• Explore, develop, and implement new molecular and next-generation sequencing methods and systems to assist characterization of common bacterial meningitis pathogens and epidemiological and outbreak investigations.
• Perform quality control, assembly, and analysis of pathogen genome sequences and management of genome sequence files and database including uploads to National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) or other similar sequence data banks.
• Analyze, review, revise and/or interpret the data and prepare scientific reports, summaries, presentations, training materials, minutes, summaries, abstracts, manuscripts, and laboratory Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and other documents related to research projects, surveillance, and other lab activities.
• Disseminate scientific findings and information at local, national and international meetings and ensure CDC clearance of disseminated information.
• Comply with Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) and quality and safety regulations as required by CDC.
• Provide input into the establishment of procedures for Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC) of sequence data analysis in the context of the specific projects.
• Provide recommendations and feedback to Laboratory and Branch personnel on CLIA and QMS regulations for informatics methods for VPD surveillance.
• Attend CDC, Center, Division, Branch and Lab required trainings
  
  

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education And Experience

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in microbiology, biology, chemistry, or basic medical science, or
• 6+ years of equivalent experience
  
  

Required

• Minimum of 1 year of laboratory experience using whole genomic sequencing, genome-based subtyping, immunological and cell biology techniques, ELISA and Luminex-bead based assays and real-time PCR testing.
• Knowledge and experience with whole genome and genome-based typing systems are essential.
• Expert knowledge and ability to perform AMD methods such as whole genome sequencing, gene sequencing, basic gene cloning techniques, gene expression, polymerase nucleic acid amplification ELISA, multiplex -bead based assays, bacterial growth & plasmid transformation, and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.
• Proficiency with open source and commercially available software for bioinformatics analysis of next generation sequencing data.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Documentation of daily work with good laboratory practice compliance.
• Skills and experience writing project reports, research protocols and manuscripts.
  
  

Desirable

• Proficiency with computer software such as Microsoft Access, DNA star, Minitab, MathCAD, BioNumerics, and statistical software
• Experience with bioinformatics analysis of genomic data generated by PacBio and Illumina sequencing platforms.
• Ability to work and build coalitions with partners involved, working with MVPD Branch members, and developing strategies for effectively conveying information to partners.
• Ability to work independently and yet to maintain the flexibility to respond to the needs of MVPD Branch.
  
  

Language Skills

• The candidate must possess excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
  
  

REQUIREMENT: Must be a United States citizen or permanent resident or have authorization for employment in the United States.

SALARY: Commensurate with qualifications and experience.

To Apply For This Position

• If you are viewing this position on the ASRT Career page, please click on the "Apply" button.
• If you are viewing this position on a site other than the ASRT Career page, you may use the "click to apply" link, or you may apply by visiting our Career page and searching for the job title and position number listed at the top of this job posting.
• To view all of our open positions and to apply to job openings in which you may be interested, please visit our Career page at https://www.asrtinc.com/careers.
  
  

ASRT, INC. IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER. It is the policy of ASRT, Inc. to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, citizenship, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, genetic information, veteran or disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law, and to take affirmative action in accordance with applicable laws and Executive Orders.