As an organization whose mission is to translate science into global public health impact, working on vaccines and therapeutics, IAVI has a vaccine policy which states that subject to applicable law, we require all U.S. and Puerto Rico based employees to be vaccinated for COVID-19, unless they have an approved medical or religious exemption or accommodation. We are committed to supporting our employees during this process as we work to ensure a safe and healthy work environment.
Position Description
Job Title: Research Associate II, Vector Evaluation and Quality Control Team
Location: Design and Development Laboratory (DDL) in Brooklyn, New York
Reports to: Principal Scientist, Vector Evaluation and Quality Control Team
Position Summary:
IAVI is seeking a highly motivated Research Associate II who is eager to contribute to the development of solutions to public health threats such as HIV/AIDS, SARS-CoV-2, Lassa, and Marburg viruses, as well as other infectious disease utilizing the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) vector platform. Come join a cutting edge team and help translate science into global health solutions at IAVI!
Key Responsibilities:
- Experience with mammalian cell culture handling.
- Support in design and conduct in vitro experiments to characterize different VSV-based vaccines.
- Support in production and purification of viral vaccine material for use in in vitro and in vivo
- Support the Scientists in the team conducting analytical assays based on established standard operating procedures (SOPs).
- Draft new SOPs when needed.
- Maintain accurate, thorough, and timely research documentation.
- Perform laboratory operation duties such as monitoring inventory, ordering supplies, maintaining safe working conditions, and disposal of chemical and biohazardous waste. These duties will be applicable to the lab in which the RA works as well as across the DDL as assigned.
- Be up to date with the literature in the field.
- Keep working area clean and organized, including fridges and freezes, as well as an updated -80C inventory.
- Other reasonable responsibilities assigned by the manager or director.
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in biological sciences is required.
- Master’s degree (MSc) preferred.
- Minimum 3 years’ experience in a molecular biology/virology/vaccine laboratory or related field.
Qualification and skills:
- Basic knowledge of virology and molecular biology is required.
- Basic knowledge of solution/reagents preparation is required.
- Experience with mammalian cell culture and aseptic techniques is required.
- Experience in a BSL-2 controlled environment is required.
- Experience with PCR, RT-PCR, and qPCR is required.
- Basic knowledge of cloning, DNA preps, and DNA/RNA extraction is required.
- Experience with infectivity assay/plaque-assay, neutralization assay, and Western-blot is desirable.
- Experience in handling biological samples is desirable.
- Knowledge of virus production and purification by sucrose or tangential flow filtration (TFF) is desirable.
- Experience with sequencing analysis is desirable.
- Experience with flow cytometry, Apogee, BLI, HPLC is desirable.
- Detail-oriented documentation of lab notebooks and experimental procedures is required.
- Ability to summarize data for lab meeting presentations is desirable.
- Ability to search and discuss scientific papers is desirable.
- Familiarity with software for primer/probe design, sequencing analysis, FlowJo, and Microsoft Office is desirable.
Organizational Overview:
IAVI is a nonprofit scientific research organization dedicated to addressing urgent, unmet global health challenges including HIV and tuberculosis. Our mission is to translate scientific discoveries into affordable, globally accessible public health solutions. Through scientific and clinical research in Africa, India, Europe, and the U.S., IAVI is pioneering the development of biomedical innovations designed for broad global access. We develop vaccines and antibodies in and for the developing world and seek to accelerate their introduction in low-income countries. IAVI programs and partnerships are grounded in the regions of the world where the disease burden is the greatest, and our approach emphasizes sustainability. Our network of clinical research center partners in Africa and India helps strengthen in-country research capacity and supports the training and education of the next generation of scientists. The global impact of our science includes fundamental contributions to understanding the biology of HIV infection, which IAVI and others are applying toward advancing vaccine science and immunology. IAVI accelerates scientific discovery and development by fostering unique collaborations among academia, industry, local communities, governments, and funders to explore new and better ways to address public health threats that disproportionately affect people living in poverty. Our global reach, including a clinical research network in five countries in sub-Saharan Africa and in India, has allowed us to make fundamental contributions to understanding the epidemiology, transmission, virology, and immunology of HIV. This work played a key role in facilitating the design of promising HIV vaccine candidates, as well as the discovery of broadly neutralizing antibodies that are now being advanced as promising approaches for HIV prevention. Our integrated capabilities in vaccine and antibody discovery, development, and clinical research take advantage of bio-pharmaceutical industry expertise to accelerate the development and testing of prevention methods for HIV and other diseases. Through the Product Development Center, we support external researchers with technical and scientific expertise to accelerate the development of their own products.
IAVI CORE VALUES:
- Dedication to the Mission: We are committed to the translation of scientific discoveries into affordable, globally accessible public health solutions.
- Innovative Evolution: We are committed to solving complex problems in creative and innovative ways, learning from our mistakes and successes and never giving up
- Integrity: We are committed to meeting the highest ethical and professional standards in everything we do and to taking responsibility for our actions to earn respect
- Collaboration: We are committed to embracing diversity, the power of global teamwork and the belief that by working as one we can make a difference
Disclaimer: Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and skills required of personnel so classified. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at-will” relationship. IAVI is an equal opportunity employer and applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.
IAVI IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER actively committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive global organization. IAVI believes that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a representative candidate pool. At IAVI, we celebrate the spectrum of colleagues’ experiences and believe that dedication to our mission above all is essential to our success as a scientific global non-profit. IAVI upholds these principles through IAVI’s Global Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
IAVI has zero tolerance for discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, caste, national origin, home language, ancestry, religion, marital or civil partnership status, age, physical or mental disability, HIV status and any other medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and veteran status, in addition to any other status protected under the law in any of our locations worldwide.
Compensation and Benefits Information for US-Based Candidates:
The annual base salary for this position is targeted at $55,000.00 – 67,500.00 with some variation based on experience level. In addition, this position offers competitive benefits such as annual bonus, generous retirement savings plan, three health insurance plans to choose from, and other benefits.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)