Overview:
Join the HJF Team!
The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (HJF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing military medicine. We serve military, medical, academic, and government clients by administering, managing, and supporting preeminent scientific programs that benefit members of the armed forces and civilians alike. Since its founding in 1983, HJF has served as a vital link between the military medical community and its federal and private partners. HJF’s support and administrative capabilities allow military medical researchers and clinicians to maintain their scientific focus and accomplish their research goals.
HJF is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow responsible for initiating and carrying out research projects in collaboration with a research team. Pursues research along a focused line of inquiry and has a manuscript in development. This individual will participate in molecular virology projects studying the post-entry cellular interactions of henipaviruses. The aim will be to provide novel insights into henipavirus cellular life cycles and identify virus-cellular interactions that can serve as therapeutic targets. The goal of the work will be to develop antiviral countermeasures against emerging henipaviruses.
This position will be in support of Dr. Eric Laing, in the department of Microbiology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.
Note: This work site requires that Non-US Citizen incumbents have lived in the US three out of the past five years.
Responsibilities:
- Assists in designing, developing, executing, and implementing scientific research and/or development.
- Investigates the feasibility of applying a wide variety of scientific principles and theories to potential inventions and products.
- Performs specialized laboratory research utilizing experimental protocols which involves specialized procedures.
- Collects and handles samples and keeps detailed records of experiments.
- Assists with the preparation of data for presentations at scientific meetings and for publication in journals.
- May perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned or directed by the supervisor. This may include attendance of and participation in required training for the role.
Research Focus Areas:
- Characterizing the zoonotic potential of emergent henipaviruses through a reductionist study of henipavirus protein-protein interactions.
- Exploring the cellular life cycle of henipaviruses utilizing Cedar virus as a model henipavirus.
- Developing and optimizing henipavirus mini-genome reporter systems for drug testing.
- Analyze post-cellular entry virus-specific pathway signaling responses.
- Conduct molecular virology research including planning and performing cell culture infection studies.
- Organize and maintain integrity of data with prime and co-investigator institutions.
- Assist in the training of students and research assistants as directed by the federal task leader on the molecular and virological methods and procedures.
- Locate and review literature pertinent to projects and identify/modify the most applicable statistical methods for model generation.
- Develop methods for research aims and objectives and collect, organize, and record data suitable for publication.
- Troubleshoot assays and adjust scientific methodology to correct problems or deficiencies in research projects.
- Maintain accurate laboratory records to ensure proper retention of scientific data.
- Serve as a subject matter expert and provide technical assistance to the prime and other investigating institutions on the project.
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Knowledge of appropriate scientific area; ability to analyze and interpret data.
- Interdisciplinary international infectious diseases research.
- Develop and apply computational mathematical models.
- Experience in utilizing infectious diseases within a biosafety level 2 (BSL-2) environment.
- Experience performing sterile cell culture.
- Experience working with viruses and cell lines.
- Demonstrated experience designing and executing virus-cell interaction experiments.
- Demonstrated experience with molecular biology techniques, e.g., protein-protein interactions.
- Demonstrated experience with confocal and fluorescence microscopy, and live-cell imaging.
- Demonstrates knowledge of proper data management and sharing.
Qualifications:
Work Environment: This position will take place primarily in a laboratory setting.
Education and Experience:
- Doctoral degree.
- Minimum of 0-5 years experience required.
Some positions or sites may require that the incumbent be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Proof of vaccination may be required.
Employment with HJF is contingent upon successful completion of a background check, which may include, but is not limited to, contacting your professional references, verification of previous employment, education and credentials, a criminal background check, and a department of motor vehicle (DMV) check if applicable. Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents, in lieu of stated minimums, require the prior approval of the Chief Human Resources Officer.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)
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