Odyssey Systems is recruiting for a Research Scientist to serve as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for the Clinical Research Laboratory and as oversight for the research being conducted in support of the 81st Medical Group Graduate Health Education program and the Clinical Research Laboratory research portfolio. The Research Scientist will provide technical/scientific guidance and will advise CRL director, GHSE director and 81 MDG leadership in regard to strategic planning for current and future research projects. He/she will ensure research projects align with Air Force Medical Service (AFMS) and Defense Health Agency (DHA) strategic plans to improve medical care of the warfighter and DoD beneficiary population. He/she will work closely with a Molecular Biologist Researcher and will conduct and oversee performance of complex molecular assays, development, validation, quality control and quality assurance activities of the Clinical Research Laboratory.

***Contingent upon contract award***

Duties include, but not limited to:

• Protocol Support: develop, write, execute (as required) and produce publication in support of current and future grants and protocols as required for CRL Core Scientific Projects, including Cancer protocols in support of the DoD MURTHA collaboration, Air Force Capability Gap research including swine models, Air Force Special Operations Training and DaVinci Surgical Robotic training/surgery. Work with clinicians on human studies when possible. Based on the major challenges of current medicine, develop vision and mission for solutions to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of breast cancer, prostate cancer and other cancers. Develop long‐term objectives to identify targets for diagnosis and therapy of cancers. Generate, evaluate, and select strategies to design research proposals for target discovery. Implement strategies to perform experiments. Assess and evaluate identifications for potential clinical application. Validate discovered novel invention and develop clinical trials. Plan, develop, and create cell and animal models for medical research. Evaluate the risk factors. Perform accuracy/efficiency data analysis. Design studies to improve the diagnosis, treatment/prognosis of KMC subspecialty supported chronic disease i.e. cancer, diabetes, En Route Care, Wound Care, and other military related diseases. Develop contracts and work with commercial vendors and the MURTHA Cancer center sequencing center to obtain required services as required.
• Collaborations: Collaborate with John P. Murtha Cancer Center (MCC), WALTER REED NATIONAL MILITARY MEDICAL CENTER (WRNMMC) (Bethesda, MD) on Tissue Biobank and Cancer research projects and be a primary investigator if required. Obtain official DoD Investigator status with MCC (as vetted by MCC), develop and conduct breast, prostate and colorectal cancer with MCC WRNMMC. As a regional CIP of MCC WRNMMC, collaborate MCC WRNMMC on cancer tissue bank.
• Participate as a member and scientific reviewer on the IRB and IACUC committees. Work locally with in‐ person communications with IRB and IACUC to support research, review medical research projects in Keesler Medical Center. Assess the risks and benefits of various medical procedures of designed study and protect patients; human and animal) rights. Minimize the risk for patients while ensuring reasonable designed study is successful. Evaluate proposed animal research, assure study design is statistically and scientifically sound. Ensure minimal patient usage and risk in the proposed studies while still being able to reach reasonable scientific conclusions. Utilize eIACUC and eIRB databases for entering, editing and reviewing research protocols.
• Work with Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) to develop Tactical Combat Casualty Care site at the Keesler CIF. Develop and coordinate a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between interested parties. Coordinate obtaining TCCC designation with AFSOC. Coordinate development of R&D efforts (development of field requirements & development of research based on training with AFSOC based on training protocols and efforts.
• Develop collaboration documents and technology transfer documentation as required. Work with Air Force Technology Transfer Office and AF Keesler CRL to effectively create agreements that promote collaboration with internal (DoD) and external (Commercial and University) partners. The incumbent will be solely responsible for the development of CRADAs (Cooperative Research and Development Agreements) as required. Development of patent licensing agreements as required. Development of Test services agreements as required. Creation of all other technology transfer agreements as required.
• Assist in Graduate Medical Education: Provides advanced education, training, and support of military related medical research for trainees and medical staff. Meets and discusses with trainees about the military related medical research. Provides specific education and training to develop medical research skills/accelerate their career development and readiness. Teach trainees to find applicable subjects and plan related projects specifically with the application of technology transfer techniques. Guide trainees to develop reasonable proposals in related medical fields. Support trainees to conduct experiments to complete the proposed studies. Supervise trainees to prepare reports, manuscripts, and presentations. Onsite SME guidance, support and assistance for KMC medical staff to plan, design, and develop medical research.
• Publication Support: Oversee, assist and advise in the generation, presentation, review and clearance of publications in support of Keesler Medical Center.
• Serve as subject matter expert on procedural, technical, and scientific issues regarding molecular research and the most complex molecular laboratory testing situations. Performs and oversees performance of complex molecular diagnostic testing. Oversees assay development and validation of all molecular tests in the laboratory. Oversees all quality control and quality assurance activities for the Molecular Laboratory. Provides technical/scientific guidance and advises CRL Director, GHSE Director and 81 MDG staff in regard to strategic planning for current and future molecular assay testing, to include but not limited to, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, next generation sequencing (NGS), Northern, Southern and Western blots, “omics”, to name a few. Provides information/guidance/recommendations to CRL, GHSE and 81 MDG staff on matters relative to test findings and on methods and applications of molecular technologies. Ensures Molecular Lab compliance with established accreditation standards as applicable. Serves as an advisor to Department of Defense, Veterans Healthcare Administration, and other federal agencies on utilization of new molecular tests and provides written and verbal feedback to critique new modalities applied, as required. Serves as consultant to the CRL, GHSE program and 81 MDG leadership and staff on molecular testing and performs ongoing evaluation/research on molecular testing as it relates to on-going and future Clinical Research portfolio. Develop cutting edge technologies to improve the medical research in Keesler Medical Center. Develop and implement state‐of-the‐art biomedical techniques for basic and translational medical research. Apply laser microdissection technologies to micro‐isolate interested single cells or tissue portions for detailed molecular and “omics” analysis (Genomics, Transcriptomics, Proteomics, Lipidomics, Metabolomics), and couple high and precise resolution of cellular and tissue imaging with multiplex labeling to study cell‐cell interaction, cell phenotyping, and cell function. Develop Western blot PAGE and 2D DIGE for protein quantitative measurements. Apply real‐time PCR and various genomic techniques for multiple gene expression analysis. Develop multiplex cell phenotyping analysis using flow cytometry. Establish 2D and 3D cell culture systems to develop in vitro cancer and other disease models for cellular function analysis and therapeutic studies. Develop xenograft human mouse cancer and other disease models to test and validate experimental therapies.
• Oversee and assist in maintaining and troubleshooting advanced biomedical research equipment to support medical research in Clinical Research Laboratory of Keesler Medical Center. Assure the following equipment (not all inclusive) work and function properly: Tri Gas CO2 Incubator, Class II type A2 Safety Cabinet, Inverted microscope, BioLog LP System, xMark (ELISA), MAGPix (Cytokine), QuantStudio 6 Flex (Real‐ time PCR), Attune NxT (Flow Cytometer), Criterion Cell/Blotter PROTEANi12 IEF system (western blot and 2D DIGE), Molecular Imaging (western blot and 3D DIGE Imaging), Leica Biosystems (ASP3030— tissue processor, CM3050S—Cryostate, VT1200VT—Microtome, CV5030—Glass Coverslipper, BANDRX—Multiplex stainer) (tissue processing, multiplex staining), Zeiss LSM 880 (supper resolution confocal microscopy system), Zeiss PALM (laser dissection system). Possess the ability to conceive, synthesize and develop training, GME, and R&D protocol research utilizing these techniques.
• Training: Coordinates and/or conducts molecular laboratory education and training for new staff and ensures competency and proficiency maintenance of molecular laboratory techniques of the molecular laboratory staff. Oversees, conducts, and/or coordinates molecular procedures, theory and equipment operation training for residents, medical students and other GHSE students that are participating in molecular research. Develops and oversees educational and academic affiliations with other institutions in the area of molecular research, exchanges information with other medical and academic centers and molecular scientists, participates in studies as directed, and attends conferences and lectures pertaining to the field of molecular biology and clinical research. Ensures all department certification and continuing education requirements are met. Prepares for and presents clinical molecular research topics and case studies internally and externally as needed.

Minimum Required Qualifications:

Citizenship: Must be a US citizen

Education: MD or Ph.D. in Microbiology, Immunology, Physiology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry or another related scientific field

Years’ experience:  5 to 10 years post-doctoral experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting cancer clinical trials
• Prior experience with a military medical agency

Additional Information:

Location: Work is on-site at the Keesler Medical Center in Biloxi, MS

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Odyssey Systems Consulting Group, is an innovative small business committed to providing world-class technical, management, and training support services to government and public sector clients. We focus on people, processes, and performance to deliver superior results. Since our inception in 1997, our commitment to mission success and customer satisfaction has been recognized with exponential growth and exceptional past performance ratings. We accept challenging assignments and drive projects from the planning stages, through implementation, and into operations and support.

Please note: Final compensation for this position will be determined by various factors such as the Federal Government contract labor categories and contract wage rates, relevant work experience, specific skills and competencies, geographic location, education, and certifications.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities