What you will be doing:

• Select and develop relevant antigens through cell cloning and bioassay techniques.
• Apply microbiology, molecular, and cell biology techniques to generate monoclonal antibodies.
• Lead the antibody discovery and optimization team to apply translational immunology and other preclinical assays to support pipeline program progression for microbial pathogens of military relevance, including ESKAPEE pathogens.
• Develop and conduct screening tests including ELISA, flow cytometry, and cell-based assays such as opsonophagocytosis and complement activation for antibody characterization.
• Perform screening and other immunological assays for the development of vaccines and the characterization of monoclonal antibodies for antibacterial therapies.
• Perform all aspects of antibody development including screening and characterization, assay design, and preclinical development using small animal models of infection.
• Independently design experiments, make detailed observations, analyze data, interpret results, and deliver timely results.
• Communicate research findings to stakeholders, enterprise clients, collaborators, the scientific community, and the general public as well as by drafting and coordinating patents, grants, manuscripts, periodic and special reports, and other relevant reports (e.g., MIC results) routinely.
• Prepare and manage research proposals to NIH and other relevant funding agencies.
• Mentor and supervise junior scientists within the team as needed.

Your Profile:

• Citizenship: Must be a US citizen.
• Clearance: Ability to obtain NACI.
• Education: Ph.D. in a relevant field such as Microbiology, Immunology, Physiology, Molecular Biology, or Biochemistry.
• Years Experience: 3-5 years of experience with antibody discovery, development, and characterization.
• Proven track record of publishing in peer-reviewed journals and securing competitive funding from grants/proposals written and submitted (at least 1). (Required)
• Strong computer skills and experience with relevant software including MS Office and GraphPad Prism. (Required)
• Experience with microbiology of Gram-negative species, antibacterial development, genetics and molecular cloning to determine and develop target antigens, eukaryotic cell culture, expression vector design, transient transfection, recombinant antibody testing and development, protein expression. (ESKAPEE Pathogenes)(Required)
• Ability to establish and validate new antibody-based functional assays and characterization processes for any given pathogen is desired. (Preferred)
• Must be a strong problem solver, decision maker, and communicator.
• Proven leadership experience, with ability to multitask and delegate when needed.