Research Assoc II - Histopathology

Job ID: req3515
Employee Type: exempt full-time
Division: Laboratory Animal Science Program
Facility: Frederick: Ft Detrick
Location: PO Box B, Frederick, MD 21702 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 Laboratory Animal Sciences Program (LASP) provides exceptional quality animal care and technical support services for animal research performed at the National Cancer Institute at the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research. LASP executes this mission by providing a broad spectrum of state-of-the-art technologies and services that are focused on the design, generation, characterization, and application of genetically engineered and biological animal models of human disease, which are aimed at the development of targeted diagnostics and therapies. LASP contributes to advancing human health, developing new treatments, and improving existing treatments for cancer and other diseases while ensuring safe and humane treatment of animals.

The Center for Advanced Preclinical Research (CAPR) within LASP develops preclinical model systems for evaluation of cancer therapeutics and biomarker discovery, facilitating the translation of research findings to the clinic. Mouse models are developed or retooled for application to studies assessing small molecule drugs, immunotherapy, and other cutting-edge cancer treatments. The successful candidate will perform a key role in the collection and processing of histologic samples from ongoing experiments. The RAII will maintain strong working relationships with other team members as well as with CAPR collaborators. Duties may include necropsy, fixed and frozen tissue processing, microtomy, cryotomy, histological staining, performing, and optimizing immunohistochemistry (IHC) assays, in situ hybridization (ISH) assay development and testing, whole slide imaging, physical and digital archiving, annotating, and analyzing digital images, and summarizing data.

KEY ROLES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Performing histotechnology procedures as a member of a high-performance project team

• Database accession, specimen tracking, archiving, and quality review

• Small animal necropsy, tissue trimming and embedding following defined, project-specific standard operating procedures

• Paraffin microtomy and OCT cryotomy, complex serial and step sectioning

• Histological staining, buffer preparation, pH assessment, and serial dilutions

• Manual and automated immunohistochemistry and in-situ hybridization

• Tissue microarray production, sectioning, and testing

• Digital whole slide imaging, slide annotation and digital image analysis

• Archiving blocks, slides, and images

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university according to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) in a field related to histology, molecular biology, anatomy or biomedical research or four (4) years equivalent, directly relevant, experience in lieu of degree

• In addition to educational requirements, a minimum of two (2)- five (5) years of related biomedical experience in a histopathology production facility/laboratory, or other commercial production facility

• Foreign degrees must be evaluated for U.S. equivalency.

• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Security Clearance.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Histotechnology Certification (HT or HTL, American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP)

Five (5) years of practical experience in and knowledge of any of the following skills

• Rodent necropsy, tissue harvest, stabilization (freezing, fixation, blood collection)

• Rodent tissue/cell processing (i.e., gross, trim, infiltration processing, paraffin/OCT embedding)

• Microtomy (paraffin, plastic), Cryotomy (OCT), Vibratome

• Standard histological staining (H&E, Trichrome)

• Immunohistochemistry (IHC), In situ hybridization (ISH),

• Multiplex chromogenic and fluorescent staining

• Bright field microscopy, fluorescent microscopy

• Digital whole slide scanning

• Leica Aperio Eslide and/or Indica Lab Halo Link Digital Slide Repository; use and database administration experience

• Familiarity with digital image annotation/analysis

• Ability to share expertise to a dynamic group

• Specialized histology or pathology experience (e.g., expert in embryology, anatomy, toxicology, pathology)

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Previous scientific contributions evidenced by prior authored publications and/or public presentations

• Flexibility to respond to changing priorities and deadlines

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

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
  

Commitment to Diversity
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.

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