MPF Federal seeks a Microbiologist to support the Naval Health Research Center (NHRC), Operational Infectious Diseases (OID) Directorate.This position will support research on infectious pathogens affecting military personnel and advance studies related to pathogen biology, host-pathogen interactions, and disease transmission. This role will primarily be responsible for the development and optimization of laboratory processes supporting OID’s new wastewater surveillance program.
The OID Directorate conducts ongoing, laboratory-based surveillance of US military populations in unique environments to quantify and study the etiology of infectious illnesses. Test specimens are collected from ongoing surveillance programs and from special investigations of febrile illnesses and acute gastroenteritis among military personnel or civilians (recruits, forces afloat, deployed forces, outbreaks of concern, and US-MX border populations).

REQUIREMENTS

• PhD in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, or a related field.
• 1+ years of relevant experience in assay development and optimization, with a focus on infectious diseases.
• Proficiency in microbiological techniques, including microbial culture, pathogen isolation, molecular diagnostics (PCR, sequencing), and antimicrobial resistance testing.
• Strong understanding of assay development/optimization and data analysis.
• Experience with data analysis software, bioinformatics tools, and laboratory information management systems (LIMS).
• Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work independently and in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent communication skills for presenting complex scientific data to diverse audiences.
• US Citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a T3/Secret Clearance.
  Some positions or sites may require that the incumbent be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and proof of vaccination may be required.

Pathogen Research & Characterization

• Develops laboratory workflows and optimizes assays to perform surveillance of target pathogens, particularly for wastewater.
• Utilizes molecular biology techniques, including concentration/extraction, quantitative PCR, and sequencing to identify and characterize microbial genomes of pathogens.
• Works with a multi-functional team to ensure project deliverables are met.
• Oversees technology transfer of completed assays to the operational laboratory surveillance team, including documentation of standard operating procedures, validation/verification planning, and end-user training.
• Studies pathogen characteristics such as virulence factors, transmission dynamics, resistance mechanisms, and environmental survivability.

Laboratory Management & Quality Control

• Ensures compliance with biosafety and biosecurity standards, especially when handling high-containment or potentially hazardous pathogens.
• Implements quality control measures to ensure the accuracy and reliability of experimental data and laboratory procedures.

Collaboration & Research Support

• Collaborates with multidisciplinary research teams, including laboratory operations, immunologists, epidemiologists, and clinicians, to support infectious disease studies within the OID Directorate.
• Contributes to the design and implementation of research projects by providing microbiological expertise and ensuring proper experimental design and execution.
• Participates in field studies and operational research to monitor pathogen spread, assess environmental factors, and collect samples for microbiological analysis.

Data Analysis and Reporting

• Analyzes and interprets microbiological data using advanced statistical and bioinformatics tools.
• Prepares scientific reports, manuscripts, and presentations for publication in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at scientific conferences.
• Contributes to grant writing and funding proposals by providing scientific insights, research plans, and data analysis frameworks.