Research Associate I

Job ID: req2563
Employee Type: exempt full-time
Division: Applied & Development Research Program
Facility: NIH
Location: NIH Campus 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA

The Frederick National Laboratory is a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and operated by Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc. The lab addresses some of the most urgent and intractable problems in the biomedical sciences in cancer and AIDS, drug development and first-in-human clinical trials, applications of nanotechnology in medicine, and rapid response to emerging threats of infectious diseases.

Accountability, Compassion, Collaboration, Dedication, Integrity and Versatility; it's the FNL way.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research (FNL) is a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and operated by the prime contractor Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc. FNL is responsible for pursuing a unique mission in translational and applied biomedical research that is unsuitable for academia, the pharmaceutical industry, or other federal contractors. This position will join the PK/PD specimen collection group located on the NIH campus in Bethesda, MD.

The PK/PD specimen collection group supports the NCI Developmental Therapeutics Clinic by providing specimen collection and processing support for investigational trials at the NIH Clinical Center. Work activities will be conducted in full compliance with written Standard Operating Procedures, laboratory certification/accreditation requirements, good clinical practice guidelines, and other elements of a Quality Assurance Plan. Work involves potentially hazardous chemical and biological materials and requires use of personal protective equipment and strict adherence to safety protocols.

KEY ROLES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as a member of the Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) specimen collection group that handles (i.e., pickup, label, transport, process, distribute, track, etc.) biological research specimens, including blood and human tissue, per protocol instructions in a clinical research environment
• Maintain detailed records of all clinical samples in compliance with good clinical practice guidelines and Clinical Center requirements
• Communicate with various clinical and laboratory units at the NIH campus, the Frederick campus, and various collaborative sites to coordinate specimen collections with clinical activities and provide timely updates of the status of time sensitive specimens
• Perform laboratory procedures that include plasma separation, PBMC isolation, tissue preservation, cell counting, and cell enrichment
• Ship frozen and fresh samples to multiple clinical assay laboratories, as indicated by protocols
• Cover occasional late night and weekend sampling, as needed, to maintain 24/7 sample coverage

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

To be considered for this position, you must minimally meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below:

• Possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university according to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) with course work in a field related to biomedical research. Foreign degrees will be evaluated for U.S. equivalency
• In addition to educational requirements, a minimum of two (2) years of related biomedical work experience
• Laboratory experience in a clinical research setting, including experience performing basic laboratory techniques with patient specimens: pipetting, centrifuge use, balance use, etc.
• Ability to work in a highly organized fashion with accurate record keeping
• Experience with laboratory quality control/quality assurance processes
• Experience processing blood and/or other body fluids
• Experience using an electronic inventory system to track specimens
• Experience abiding by good clinical practice regulations
• Demonstrated proficiency working with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and Outlook) and strong general computer skills
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates with these desired skills will be given preferential consideration:

• Experience with clinical trials and other protocol driven clinical research
• Experience with laboratory quality control/quality assurance processes
• Experience using an electronic inventory system to track specimens
• Experience with specimen processing from multiple, simultaneous clinical trials

JOB HAZARDS

• This position is subject to working with or have potential for exposure to animal(s) and/or animal material(s)
• This position is subject to working with or have potential for exposure to infectious material, requiring medical clearance and immunizations
• This position may require continuous or intermittent exposure to and exertion in environmental conditions such as working outdoors, temperature extremes, humidity extremes. etc. as part of the job

Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) | Minority/Female/Disabled/Veteran (M/F/D/V) | Drug Free Workplace (DFW)

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