Research Technician - Vector-Borne Diseases
Animal Care
Insect Rearing
Research
REQ#: RQ146071
Public Trust: NACI (T1)
Requisition Type: Regular
Your Impact
Own your opportunity to work alongside federal civilian agencies. Make an impact by providing services that help the government ensure the well being of U.S. citizens.
Job Description
- Maintain the department’s vector colonies including (but not limited to) Anopheles spp. mosquitoes, Aedes spp. mosquitoes and sandflies (multiple genera) and provide an Insect Colony Maintenance Report.
- Maintain healthy lab-reared vector colonies for vector production to support research program following department SOPs with reasonable development time under current environmental conditions. WRAIR Insectary consists of two separate areas where duties are distinct and unique. This may include colonies of 17 or more sand fly species/strains and 8 or more mosquito colonies reared concurrently in different environments which can result in tens of thousands of insects produced per week, depending on demand.
- Work with animals used for colony maintenance and research, including rodents, dogs, and non- human primates.
- Coordinate with supervisor(s) to assess and adjust vector production procedures to increase or decrease output based on evolving research requirements or changes and provide vector production records.
- Coordinate with research collaborators for vector distribution according to research schedules and maintain records of vector production and distribution, to include assisting with shipment of vectors to outside collaborators, in accordance with all regulatory governance.
- Monitor Insectary facilities and equipment, e.g., vector rearing chambers/incubators, refrigerators, plumbing and heating; and the environmental conditions of vector rearing chambers, report any irregular conditions as defined in colony maintenance SOPs to the department chief, insectary officer in charge, or lab manager and contact appropriate repair technicians.
- Provide a follow-up report to the department chief, insectary officer in charge, or lab manager. In case of emergencies in the insectary or animal room during the weekends, individuals maintaining those areas shall report and provide assistance.
- Ensure equipment is clean and overall conditions are neat and in order, including glassware cleaning and operation of sterilization equipment.
- Acquire and maintain certification from the institutional Animal Care and Use Program (ACUP) and Rodent Handling Workshop; follow the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), Department of Defense regulations and animal welfare guidelines for handling animals as vector blood sources, including proper use of anesthetic agents, animal euthanasia and carcass disposal.
- Collect and organize laboratory data, provide data summaries, troubleshoot, and provide job-related progress reports/technical reports, as requested. May require working evenings and weekends.
- Maintain a safe workplace ensuring appropriate safety and occupational health rules and regulations are observed and attend all safety training relative to the position and report any infractions to the facility Safety Officer.
- Education: BS in a biological science
- Required Experience: 2-3 years of research laboratory experience
- Required Technical Skills: Experience with insect- rearing and BSL-2 containment preferred
- Experience collecting and organizing laboratory data, provide data summaries
- Experience with animal handling
- Experience with insect colony maintenance
- Preferred Skills: Experience with Vector and Parasite Biology
- Experience with mosquito rearing
- Experience working in a BSL-2 containment environment
- Certifications in Animal Care and Use Program (ACUP)
- Location: onsite Silver Spring, MD
- Security Clearance Level: Able to obtain a public trust (T1)
- US Citizenship Required - Must be a U.S. Citizen
- Challenging work that makes a real impact on the world around you
- Internal mobility team dedicated to helping you own your career
- 401K with company match
- Diverse, highly collaborative teams
- Professional development, education assistance, certification and training opportunities
Work Requirements
2 + years of related experience
* may vary based on technical training, certification(s), or degree
None
U.S. Citizenship Required
About Our Work
We are GDIT. The people supporting some of the most complex government, defense, and intelligence projects across the country. We deliver. Bringing the expertise needed to understand and advance critical missions. We transform. Shifting the ways clients invest in, integrate, and innovate technology solutions. We ensure today is safe and tomorrow is smarter. We are there. On the ground, beside our clients, in the lab, and everywhere in between. Offering the technology transformations, strategy, and mission services needed to get the job done.
COVID-19 Vaccination
GDIT does not have a vaccination mandate applicable to all employees. To protect the health and safety of its employees and to comply with customer requirements, however, GDIT may require employees in certain positions to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccination requirements will depend on customer site requirements.
GDIT is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status, or any other protected class.