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Scientist I

Novavax
On-site
Gaithersburg, MD
$98,150 - $127,600 USD yearly
Clinical Research and Development

Role Summary

Scientist I in Translational Medicine responsible for helping develop and execute biomarker strategies that bridge preclinical research and clinical application. The role supports integrating laboratory and clinical data to enable informed decision-making in drug development, with a focus on precision medicine and patient stratification.

Responsibilities

  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams (e.g., Clinical Development, Biomarker Discovery, Bioinformatics, Regulatory Affairs) to design and implement translational research strategies.
  • Support biomarker discovery and validation studies using clinical and preclinical samples.
  • Develop and optimize new assays to interrogate biomarkers in an in vitro immunological setting to support preclinical and clinical studies with minimal supervision.
  • Use molecular and classical immunology/infectious disease techniques to generate critical reagents for assay development, such as recombinant protein/virus and establishing reporter systems.
  • Analyze and interpret complex biological data from omics technologies (e.g., genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics).
  • Expertise in flow cytometry and ELISPOT -based assays to measure cell-mediated immunity.
  • Assist in the development of biomarker-related clinical trial protocols and study documents (e.g., lab manuals, sample collection plans).
  • Familiarity with assay qualifications and validation procedures is preferred.
  • Contribute to the preparation of regulatory submissions (e.g., IND, CTA) and scientific publications.
  • Stay current with relevant scientific literature and emerging technologies in translational research and biomarker development.

Qualifications

  • Required: Ph.D. in Immunology, Molecular Biology, Oncology, Pharmacology, or a related field with a minimum of 3 years of relevant postdoctoral or industry experience.
  • Preferred: Familiarity with assay qualifications and validation procedures.
  • Preferred: Experience working with clinical trial samples or clinical data.

Skills

  • Hands-on experience with molecular and cellular biology techniques.
  • Familiarity with data analysis tools (e.g., FlowJo, Prism) and bioinformatics platforms is a plus.
  • Experience working with clinical trial samples or clinical data is preferred.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication.
  • Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
  • Strong collaboration and team-working abilities.

Additional Requirements

  • Mobility and dexterity: ability to stand and walk for extended periods, fine motor skills for handling small instruments and delicate samples, and the ability to bend, reach, squat or climb small ladders.
  • Visual and auditory requirements: good vision (corrected if necessary) for reading labels, observing color changes, using microscopes, and hearing sufficient to detect alarms or verbal instructions in the lab environment.
  • Lifting and carrying: ability to life and carry up to 25-30 lbs; some roles may require pushing/pulling carts or equipment.
  • Environmental tolerance: comfortable working in environments with chemical fumes or biological materials, equipment noise, cold/warm rooms, or areas with variable temperature/humidity.
  • Protective equipment use: must be able to wear lab coats, gloves, safety glasses, face shields, respirators, etc., for extended periods.