Associate Director for High Containment

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), one of the largest Institutes in the National Institutes of Health (NIH), part of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), conducts and supports basic and applied research to better understand, treat, and ultimately prevent infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases.

The Division of Clinical Research (DCR) within NIAID seeks an enthusiastic and innovative scientific leader to serve as associate director for high containment at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick (IRF-Frederick).

IRF-Frederick is a collaborative resource that facilitates multidisciplinary research to understand, treat, prevent, and eradicate diseases caused by novel, emerging, and highly virulent viruses. IRF-Frederick is a state-of-the-art facility where researchers investigate and stem the global emergence/re-emergence of highly infectious and deadly diseases and study select agents and toxins that could be used as biological weapons.

Responsibilities of the associate director for high containment position include the following:

•    Serve as a principal advisor and expert consultant to DCR and NIAID leadership and external stakeholders in designing, implementing, and interpreting pre-clinical studies involving animal models for highly pathogenic viruses, which includes medical imaging for real-time assessment of disease progression

•    Manage and coordinate IRF-Frederick’s high-containment (biosafety level [BSL]-3 and BSL-4) laboratory research program, scientific operations, and robust infrastructure needed to support the facility’s capabilities

•    Provide scientific leadership and expertise in designing, implementing, managing, and interpreting high-priority infectious diseases research composed of highly complex projects with global scope and impact

•    Develop and implement biosafety requirements for IRF-Frederick’s clinical, laboratory, and vivarium space and develop guidelines, policies, and standards for the operation of the facility and its research activities

Specific research responsibilities of the position include:

•    Direct the scientific and operational development of complex, multidisciplinary research protocols under BSL-3 and BSL-4 containment conditions and monitor the conditions and practices related to BSL-3 and BSL-4 environments

•    Design, facilitate, and evaluate research projects to develop in vitro and in vivo models for BSL-3 and BSL-4 agents to develop countermeasures

•    Oversee and participate in studies to identify the pathogenic mechanisms involved in life-threatening infectious viral diseases

•    Manage the concept development process to evaluate new opportunities for IRF-Frederick involvement and assist in shaping concepts into viable and achievable projects

•    Direct the exploration and recommendation of new or enhanced technologies for the facility’s application and evaluate and develop innovative strategies to better support and facilitate the facility’s research program operations

•    Serve as a contracting officer’s representative and manage the prime contract for research services that support IRF-Frederick

Qualifications

Required

U.S. citizen

The selected candidate must be able to obtain and maintain a top secret security clearance.

If you are ready for an exciting opportunity, please see the detailed job announcement at Scientific Careers at NIH for more information about the position and how to apply.

HHS, NIH, and NIAID are equal opportunity employers dedicated to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.