Senior Research Associate

Description

Venesco, LLC., is seeking a Research Associate to work at United States Army Institute of Surgical Research (USAISR). The vision of the USAISR is to be the world’s premier research organization enabling readiness and delivering evidence-based solutions for the optimal care of the combat wounded.

Hours: Normal workdays are Monday through Friday, except U.S. Federal holidays. Contractors shall typically work eight (8) hours per day, forty (40) hours per week. USAISR's core hours of work are between the hours of 0800 to 1500 daily. Contractor is expected to be available during core hours.

Duties. The Senior Research Associate will assist in conducting research protocols that focus on small and large animal models with an emphasis on immunohistochemistry, assessment of pathogen and damage associated molecular patterns, analysis of blood-derived samples, and the development and validation of a semi-autonomous burn resuscitation (SABRE) system.

•  Key Task 1: Contractor shall provide lead support to the USAISR investigators. This includes preparing internal animal order requests, scheduling operating rooms/ICU, and coordinating veterinary care with vivarium staff.
• Key Task 2: Contractor shall assist in the coordinating the execution of small and large animal translational studies IAW IACUC approved research protocol.
• Key Task 3: Contractor shall perform and/or assist in small and large animal surgical procedures in support of approved protocols. These procedures may include blood draws, administering pharmaceuticals (such as Ketamine), femoral and carotid cut downs for catheter placement, thoracotomy, animal care/observation for up to 72 hours after surgery, and tissue biopsy.
•  Key Task 4: Contractor shall collect/process/analyze tissue samples collected from animal translational models utilizing supplied equipment (i.e. - Advia 2120, STAGO, GEM blood gas analyzer, TEG 5000, Cytoflex flow cytometer, nitric oxide analyzer, electron microscope, and optical coherence tomography).
• Key Task 5: Contractor shall perform assays to assess novel biomarkers in translational large animal trauma models.
• Key Task 6: Contractor shall perform laboratory testing of blood-derived samples to include but not limited: complete blood counts, coagulation assays, thromboelastography, flow cytometry, and platelet aggregometry.
• Key Task 7: Contractor shall perform coagulation and platelet activation analyses. 3.2.8. Key Task 8: Contractor shall collect/record/manage all assay data IAW local policy. Contractor (Deliverable 5) shall accurately enter and organize data collected during protocols utilizing Excel spreadsheets.
• Key Task 9: Contractor shall perform basic statistical computations of raw data such as: mean, standard deviation, standard errors, and analysis of variance with provided statistical software such as SAS, GraphPad, or SigmaPlot.
• Key Task 10: Contractor shall prepare solutions, drugs, and reagents for experiments.
• Key Task 11: Contractor shall assist in the development of laboratory SOPs.
• Key Task 12: Contractor shall analyze data/prepare reports/assist in protocol writing, manuscript writing and scientific report preparation (Deliverable 6).
• Key Task 13: Contractor shall adhere to local safety and regulatory policies, practices, and procedures.
• Key Task 14: Contractor shall perform all surgical procedures and sample/data collection/storage IAW approved protocols/SOPs/ local policy.
• Key Task 15: Contractor shall (Deliverable 4) participate/present findings at lectures, seminars, and annual conferences. This may include traveling to scientific meetings to present results.
•  Key Task 16: Contractor shall provide technical support in an established swine model of severe burn to determine the safety and efficacy of the SABRE system.
•  Key Task 17: Contractor shall utilize machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) approaches to identify signals of resuscitation quality, as measured by circulating creatinine.
• Key Task 18: Contractor shall assist with the validation of an optimized Burn Resuscitation Decision Support System – Clinical (BRDSS-C) algorithm using our swine model of burn and resuscitation.
•  Key Task 19: Contractor shall measure the physiological status of the animal, including measuring fluid volumes infused, urine output produced, as well as hemodynamic measurements, including heart rate, blood pressure, cardiac output, central venous pressure, pulmonary artery pressure, and systemic vascular resistance.

Requirements

• Degree: Completion of a Bachelors Degree in a Biomedical Science.
• Experience: Two years of experience as a research technician. Experience working with mice, rats or p