Senior Research Scientist - Genomics and Infectious Diseases

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Job Description:

Parsons is seeking a Senior Research Scientist – Genomics and Infectious Diseases to support the Biological Defense Research Directorate within the Naval Medical Research Command at Fort Detrick, Maryland. This key-personnel position will provide senior scientific leadership for research involving genomics, molecular biology, infectious diseases, biosurveillance, pathogen characterization, and whole-genome sequencing.

The successful candidate will help guide multidisciplinary research supporting U.S. biodefense, force health protection, emerging-pathogen detection, pandemic preparedness, and the development of analytical methods. The position will also support the management of scientific personnel and research resources while preserving the Government’s authority over inherently governmental decisions.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead basic and applied research involving molecular biology, genomics, microbiology, virology, and emerging infectious diseases.
• Design scientifically rigorous studies, experimental methods, and analytical approaches supporting pathogen detection and characterization.
• Provide senior technical direction for whole-genome sequencing and related laboratory and analytical activities.
• Support genomics and metagenomics studies involving pathogens, near neighbors, bacteriophages, and complex samples.
• Guide the development and improvement of wet-laboratory and bioinformatics protocols.
• Review scientific data, resolve technical issues, and ensure research methods produce accurate and reproducible results.
• Support epidemic, pandemic, and emerging-threat research and response activities.
• Train and mentor contractor scientists, technicians, and support personnel.
• Coordinate contractor research activities, budgets, supplies, equipment, and laboratory inventories, subject to Government approval.
• Prepare or review scientific reports, protocols, manuscripts, presentations, and funding-support materials.
• Collaborate with Government personnel and CONUS and OCONUS laboratory partners.
• Travel domestically and internationally, including to potentially austere or resource-limited environments.

What Required Skills You’ll Bring

• Ph.D. in molecular biology, biology, microbiology, virology, emerging infectious diseases, biochemistry, or a closely related field.
• Practical postdoctoral research experience in virology and bacteriology.
• At least 10 years of extensive, demonstrable experience in molecular biology or genomics.
• Demonstrated knowledge of basic and applied research, experimental design, and scientific methods.
• Demonstrated ability to perform original, competent research, including whole-genome sequencing.
• Demonstrated experience managing research programs and training scientific and technical personnel.
• Experience coordinating research expenses, supplies, and laboratory inventories.
• Strong written and verbal communication, scientific leadership, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work under deadlines and travel nationally and internationally for periods of up to two to four weeks.
• Ability to provide occasional after-hours support based on assigned mission requirements.
• U.S. citizenship due to federal contract requirements.
• Eligibility to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance and required Government facility and system access.

What Desired Skills You’ll Bring

• Experience supporting NMRC, Navy Medicine, DoD, or another federal research laboratory.
• Experience with biodefense, biosurveillance, force health protection, or emerging infectious diseases.
• Experience with NGS of clinical, environmental, wastewater, animal, vector, or bacteriophage samples.
• Experience with genome assembly, annotation, phylogenetics, or molecular epidemiology.
• Experience supervising multidisciplinary wet-laboratory and bioinformatics teams.
• Experience supporting international laboratories or research in resource-limited settings.
• Scientific publications, conference presentations, or demonstrated research leadership.
• An active Secret security clearance.

Compliance Note

This position is expected to be primarily on-site at Fort Detrick, Maryland, and is contingent upon contract award. U.S. citizenship and eligibility for a Secret security clearance are required. The selected candidate must satisfy applicable background investigation, CAC, facility-access, IT-access, laboratory-safety, and research-training requirements. Participation in assigned rotational reach-back coverage may be required outside normal business hours, including evenings, weekends, or holidays.

Security Clearance Requirement:

None

This position is part of our Federal Solutions team.

The Federal Solutions segment delivers resources to our US government customers that ensure the success of missions around the globe. Our intelligent employees drive the state of the art as they provide services and solutions in the areas of defense, security, intelligence, infrastructure, and environmental. We promote a culture of excellence and close-knit teams that take pride in delivering, protecting, and sustaining our nation's most critical assets, from Earth to cyberspace. Throughout the company, our people are anticipating what’s next to deliver the solutions our customers need now.

Salary Range: $125,100.00 - $225,200.00

We value our employees and want our employees to take care of their overall wellbeing, which is why we offer best-in-class benefits such as medical, dental, vision, paid time off, 401(k), life insurance, flexible work schedules, and holidays to fit your busy lifestyle!

Parsons is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other protected status.

We truly invest and care about our employee’s wellbeing and provide endless growth opportunities as the sky is the limit, so aim for the stars! Imagine next and join the Parsons quest—APPLY TODAY!

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