Research Technician

You will join a dynamic and growing team at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) Wound Infection Department (WID). WID is tasked with delivering specific, effective countermeasures for infection of combat wounds pre-injury, at the point-of-injury, and post-injury. The Structural Biology (XTAL) group focuses on structure-based drug designs for microbial pathogens of military relevance. Researchers in this group express, purify and crystalize ESKAPEE pathogen proteins of interest and utilize sophisticated techniques such as X-ray Crystallography and mass spectroscopy to model small molecule drug-protein interactions.

• 
  Provide technical support in several research areas including: 1) Molecular biology, 2) Microbiology, 3) Immunology, 4) X-ray crystallography, 5) Various chromatographic systems, and 6) structure-function relationships.
• Performs microbiological and molecular biological studies on various bacterial pathogens of military relevance under biosafety level 2 and 3 conditions, including genetic/genotypic analysis of these pathogens.
• Contribute to the development of research protocols and grant proposals and in the conduct of research related to therapeutic discovery and development for trauma‐related infections.
• Cultures infectious agents for use in laboratory procedures. Prepares pure sterile DNA samples from microbial agents in biosafety level 2 and 3 laboratories.
• Follows established protocols to perform microbiological and molecular biological assays.
• Organizes and tabulates results of studies and prepares data summaries.
• Maintains accurate and appropriate research records including maintaining a laboratory notebook compliant with standards of laboratory work (replicability) and with WRAIR/Army regulations.
• Completes all required safety, biosafety and security training classes.
• Obtain required annual occupational physical examinations and serologic tests and any required security clearances for work in department biosafety level 2 and 3 laboratories.
• Specialized training in new methods and procedures as needed, including in the use of data analysis software.

• 
  US Citizen
• BS. in appropriate discipline (e.g., microbiology, immunology and molecular biology) with at least 7 years’ related laboratory experience.
• Must have experience in BSL-2 environments and the ability to conduct safe work in this laboratory environment.
• Must be able to work with animals.

• 
  Place of Performance: Silver Spring MD
• Able to obtain National Agency Clearance and Inquiries (NACI)