Biologist; Hybrid

Akima Systems Engineering (ASE) is hiring a qualified and experienced Biologist to perform the tasks described below in support of The National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC).

The NWHC is a science center of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) dedicated to wildlife disease detection, control, and prevention. Its mission is to advance wildlife health science for the benefit of animals, humans, and the environment. The center focuses on chronic wasting disease (CWD) research, including detection approaches, diagnostic techniques, environmental persistence, transmission, pathobiology, and animal host susceptibility.

U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center
6006 Schroeder Road, Madison, WI 53711

• Hybrid position – commute within Madison, WI.
• Occasional travel to professional society meetings, workshops, and sample collection sites.

• Collect, curate, and prepare biological and environmental samples that may contain CWD prions.
• Assist in developing protocols for prion detection from a wide range of biological and environmental samples.
• Prepare preliminary experimental designs for laboratory experiments.
• Operate laboratory equipment (balances, centrifuges, incubators, shakers, pipettes, thermal cyclers, spectrophotometers, etc.).
• Purify recombinant prion proteins from
  
  E. coli for use in real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) assays.
• Perform and troubleshoot RT-QuIC assays.
• Examine tissue and environmental samples for the presence of disease-associated prion proteins.
• Extract prions from multiple matrices for detection and analysis.
• Quantitate the abundances of relevant proteins from tissue samples.
• Extract nucleic acids from tissue samples.
• Prepare nucleic acids for genotyping and sequencing.
• Provide preliminary data analysis to support experimental conclusions.
• Assemble, evaluate, and analyze data for presentation in a scientifically appropriate manner.
• Generate laboratory reports describing research segments.
• Maintain laboratory supplies and equipment and ensure laboratory safety standards are met.

• US Citizen able to obtain and maintain a Department of Interior PIV card.
• Bachelor's degree in a science-related field.
• Two to four years of research experience with experimental design, genotyping, and sequencing.
• Willingness to travel to support program tasks, including occasional attendance to professional society meetings and workshops.
• Familiarity with a variety of biology concepts, practices, and procedures.

Hybrid

Akima Systems Engineering (ASE) is an Alaska Native Corporation (ANC) that supports shareholder communities in Alaska while providing solutions for government customers across the Department of Defense.