Research Analyst III - Research Support for Microbiological and Chemical Contaminants, Seafood Safety

The mission of FDA HFP is to assure the safety and wholesomeness of regulated foods and related products. DSST laboratories provide scientific support for Agency policy, regulation, compliance programs, research, and outbreak investigations related to seafood safety. The DFPST Proficiency Testing (PT) Laboratory, accredited under ISO/IEC 17043, serves as an FDA-designated Proficiency Test Provider supporting analytical capability and capacity across FDA, state, and local public health laboratories.

The PT Laboratory conducts proficiency testing exercises and supports validation and verification of microbiological and chemical analytical methods through inter-laboratory studies and comparison exercises.

Requirements

The objective of this role is to provide support research, analytical method development, optimization and validation, and outbreak investigations involving microbiological and chemical contaminants in seafood. Perform molecular detection and/or characterization of viruses and other microorganisms from seafood samples.

Develop, optimize, and/or validate methods for identification of pathogens in seafood. Extract nucleic acid (RNA/DNA) templates from seafood samples for molecular analyses. Isolate and identify microorganisms from seafood samples. Document laboratory analyses and results. Analyze data and prepare project reports describing progress and work completed during the applicable task-order year.

Analyze data and prepare manuscripts for publication. Collect environmental samples as required.

Education

Master's degree in Biology or a related field (e.g., biological science, microbiology, molecular biology, or biomedical sciences), with 3+ years of experience. Additional Experience: Analyzing food and environmental samples for extraction and detection of viral pathogens. Using real-time PCR instrumentation. Using or understanding Sanger sequencing platforms.

Developing, optimizing, and/or validating methods for the identification of pathogens in seafood Applying aseptic techniques when performing molecular-based methods. Location: Onsite Benefits PPO/HMO Health Plan (includes medical, dental, and vision) 401K Retirement Plan Paid Time Off (PTO)