Scientist (Level I)

Datasoft Technologies, Inc. is seeking a Scientist (Level I) for a one-year onsite contract in Silver Spring, MD. The role involves planning and conducting laboratory experiments related to malaria research, including cell culture, PCR, and CRISPR techniques. Candidates should have an M.Sc. in a relevant science and at least two years of laboratory experience. Responsibilities include maintaining lab records, presenting findings, and contributing to publications.
Scientist (Level I)
Onsite

About Job
Duration: One year contract, (may be extended to two years)
Location: Silver Spring, Maryland
Pay: Hourly

Responsibilities:
• Independently plan, develop, implement, and manage all experiments and protocols under study
• Perform, with technical independence, basic and advanced laboratory procedures such as in vitro cell culture of the malaria parasites, PCR, qPCR, bacterial identification with mass spectroscopy, detection of P. falciparum biomarkers from RNA-sequencing data and whole genome sequencing analysis.
• Generate specific genetic mutations in P. falciparum that confer anti-malarial drug resistance as needed.
• Design and perform experiments to evaluate the efficacy and accuracy of CRISPR-based detection methods for P. falciparum.
• Design and perform experiments to assess the impact of common sample collection methods on the detection of P. falciparum via CRISPR-based assays.
• id in general maintenance of the laboratory by working with other members of staff to keep the laboratory a safe and clean working environment and replenishing used supplies from stocks as needed.
• Maintain thorough and complete government-owned records of experiments, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and data in hard copy laboratory notebooks, as well as in electronic versions made available to the PI and other individuals in the laboratory
• Read current literature (journal articles) that pertains to the research being conducted to aid in technique development and experimental design
• Summarize progress for presentation at internal lab meetings, participate and present results at divisional seminars
• Prepare results and work with the PI to write and edit publications for submission to peer-reviewed scientific journals

Qualifications:

Education and experience - shall be in compliance with the labor category Scientist Level
I in the base contract Statement of Work. The project requires one Level I Scientist (M.Sc.
in microbiology, molecular biology, immunology, or another relevant science field with at
least 1 years of laboratory experience). The candidate/s presented shall also demonstrate
specific skills including:
• Independently plan, develop, implement, and manage all experiments and protocols under study
• Perform, with technical independence, basic and advanced laboratory procedures such as Plasmodium falciparum tissue culture, genetic manipulation, nucleic acid extraction, PCR, qPCR, CRISPR-targeting design, and next-generation RNA and DNA sequence analysis.
• t least 2 years of experience in malaria parasite tissue culturing and maintenance.
• t least 2 years of experience with molecular microbiology and genetic manipulation.
• Keep abreast of pertinent literature and incorporate appropriate concepts and techniques into research activities and experiments.
• Collect, record, organize, and analyze experimental data.
• Summarize progress for presentation at Laboratory and Division meetings and microbiology research conferences.
• Submit results for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal