Senior Bacteriology Lab Technician

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Job Description:

Parsons is looking for an amazingly talented Senior Bacteriology Lab Technician to provide research support administration services for our government customer in Frederick, MD. In this role you will get to assist in molecular microbiological experiments and manage various laboratory tasks to support bacterial virulence studies and vaccine/therapeutic efforts.

Regular hours of work with the possibility of Weekends or extra weekly hours if needed.

What You'll Be Doing:

• Assist PI in molecular microbiological experiments aimed at defining elements and factors involved in bacterial virulence.
• Assist in approximately 2 animal protocols conducted by other investigators.
• Complete approximately the following per year:
  • 25 opsonic adherence assays to test the efficacy of animal sera in the presence of Baby Rabbit Complement to adhere Ames bacilli and spores to RAW 264.7 macrophage cells.
  • 10 anthrax toxin neutralization assays
  • 500 bacterial burdens in organ tissue
  • 40 DNA chromosomal preparations, 500 PCR reactions, and 35 agar gel analyses
  • 100 media preparations
• Complete over 1000 ELISAs for various novel vaccine strategies and mAb identifications.
• Prepare approximately 10 different reagents/media for the lab and 100 LB plates for Ames sporulation isolation and purification.
• Isolate and purify approximately 10 plasmid DNA specimens.
• FITC label and count approximately 10 Ames samples to check the ratio of Bacilli: Spores over multiple time points.
• Order lab supplies for BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratories.
• Present data collected from opsonic adherence and ELISA at group meetings and prepare reports for the supervising investigator.
• Organize and maintain data generated from immunological and microbiological studies.
• Manage approximately 80 hand receipt items and maintain laboratory equipment.
• Perform approximately per year the following:
  • 25 cell biology/biochemical/microbiological tasks including protein gel electrophoresis, western blot analysis, and growth of macrophage cell lines.
  • 100 immunological, antibody determinations and 100 ELISAs on various serum samples
  • 50 cytokine analyses using a Luminex instrument and 50 flow cytometry tasks using BD FACS Calibur and BD FACS Canto II.
  • 100 Luminex cytokine analyses
  • 75 macrophage phagocytosis assays
  • 200 ELISAs
  • 125 animal necropsies
  • 150 animal gavage and 250 animal blood collections
  • 15 animal challenges and 10 bacterial challenge preparations
  • 1,200 animal injections and 2,500 animal observations
  • 250 BSL-3 live/dead assays per year.
• Prepare approximately 20 cloning plasmids, 50 sequencing reactions, and 90 plasmid preparations.
• Process approximately 40 protein and western gels per year.
• Place approximately 50 GFEBs orders per year for supplies and equipment.
• Serve as a training representative for BSL-2 laboratory skills.
• Assist PI with project planning quarterly.
• Participate in training new personnel on laboratory tasks monthly.
• Perform BSAT inventory management weekly.
• Conduct equipment inventory management twice a year in BSL-2 and BSL-3.
• Perform monthly laboratory management including safety functions and chemical inventory.
• Assist the BSL-3 suite supervisor with suite supervisory duties.
• Interface with inspectors and perform monthly inspections.
• Plan and perform animal experiments under BSL-3 conditions.
• Review relevant literature monthly and assist in preparing standard operating procedures and manuscripts.
• Present research findings at one scientific conference per year, which may require CONUS or OCONUS travel.
• Provide monthly Bacteriology Technical Support reports.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

What Required Skills You'll Bring:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant science field (Molecular Microbiological or similar field preferred) with 5 years of laboratory experience.
• Background in molecular microbiological laboratory research.
• Direct experience with bacterial virulence and animal protocols.
• Experience performing opsonic adherence assays and ELISAs for various vaccine strategies and mAb identifications.
• Experience preparing reagents/media for the lab.
• Experience isolating and purifying Ames sporulation and plasmid DNA specimens.
• At least 2-3 years of experience in equipment inventory management (GFEBS experience preferred).
• At least 2-3 years of experience in immunological, antibody determinations, ELISAs, and cytokine analyses.
• Experience with Luminex instrument and BD FACS Calibur and BD FACS Canto II preferred.
• At least 3-5 years of experience performing biology/biochemical/microbiological tasks.
• At least 2-3 years of experience performing animal necropsies, animal gavage, and animal blood collections.
• Experience performing PCR reactions, agar gel analysis, cloning plasmids, sequencing reactions, and plasmid preparations.
• Ability to perform protein gel electrophoresis, western blot analysis, growth of macrophage cell lines, bacterial growth assays, and live-dead cell determinations.
• Experience preparing microbiological media for bacterial cultures and DNA chromosomal preparations.
• Experience performing complement fixation assays, inhibition concentration antibiotic testing, vaccine/therapeutic efforts, and RT-PCR and qPCR analyses.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a NACI clearance
• BPRP and CS-PRP enrollment required.

Minimum Clearance Required to Start:
Not Applicable/None

This position is part of our Federal Solutions team.

The Federal Solutions segment delivers resources to our US government customers that ensure the success of missions around the globe. Our intelligent employees drive the state of the art as they provide services and solutions in the areas of defense, security, intelligence, infrastructure, and environmental. We promote a culture of excellence and close-knit teams that take pride in delivering, protecting, and sustaining our nation's most critical assets, from Earth to cyberspace. Throughout the company, our people are anticipating what's next to deliver the solutions our customers need now.

Salary Range: $35.05 - $61.35

We value our employees and want our employees to take care of their overall wellbeing, which is why we offer best-in-class benefits such as medical, dental, vision, paid time off, 401(k), life insurance, flexible work schedules, and holidays to fit your busy lifestyle!

Parsons is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other protected status.

We truly invest and care about our employee's wellbeing and provide endless growth opportunities as the sky is the limit, so aim for the stars! Imagine next and join the Parsons quest-APPLY TODAY!

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