$18,000 – $28,000 (depending on experience)

APHL is a nonprofit based in the United States, with offices globally. As a vested implementing partner, APHL supports Global Health Security (GHS), particularly in the Southeast Asia region. This position will target APHL activities as they relate to laboratory systems strengthening in support of the GHS initiative, including contributing to and implementing activities that support the CDC SEA Applied Science Hub, based in Bangkok, Thailand. This Hub serves as a regional platform to support collaborative applied science research to combat priority public health problems. The laboratory activities of the Hub focus primarily on advanced molecular methods and pathogen genomics. Hub activities are implemented in collaboration with US CDC investigators, other USG agencies, the Thailand Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), the Ministry of Agriculture Thailand, and Thailand Academic Institutions. The incumbent of this position will be based at the Hub laboratory, which is part of the US CDC Thailand platform located on the MOPH campus in Nonthaburi, Thailand.

 

The incumbent will work alongside CDC staff to perform molecular biological procedures and other related tasks or assignments to support the SEA Regional Applied Science Hub’s research projects and initiatives. The incumbent must possess excellent molecular biology skills and will be working under the technical supervision of APHL’s Southeast Asia Laboratory Technical Advisor and the CDC SEA Applied Science Hub Director. The incumbent will receive day-to-day guidance or task-specific assignments from the Hub Director. In the absence of the Hub Director, the incumbent will receive day-to-day guidance from the CDC Thailand Laboratory Branch Chief as directed by the Hub Director. The incumbent is expected to participate in meetings related to the operation of the SEA Applied Science Hub and CDC Thailand Laboratory, trainings, and educational activities when applicable.

• Performs laboratory procedures and experiments to support the SEA Applied Science Hub projects and initiatives using best practices in molecular biology to ensure the accuracy of results and prevent contamination. The incumbent should:
  • Be able to work safely in a laboratory.
    • Uses proper personal protective equipment (PPE).
    • Properly handles potentially hazardous human or animal specimens, biological, and chemical agents.
    • Performs work safely inside a biological safety cabinet.
    • Safely uses an autoclave.
    • Able to manage laboratory accidents including but not limited to biological substance or chemical spills and exposure, and fire safety procedures.
  • Basic molecular biology skills.
    • Performs reagent preparation and aliquoting.
    • Practices unidirectional molecular workflow.
    • Uses sterile technique and best molecular practices when performing experiments.
    • Extracts nucleic acid extraction from various sample types, including human or animal specimens (manual and automated methods)
    • Performs gel electrophoresis.
    • Set up polymerase chain reactions (regular PCR, real-time PCR, real-time quantitative PCR, colony PCR, and digital PCR) and interpret PCR results.
    • Purifies PCR products (manual and automated methods).
    • Disinfects and decontaminates equipment and work areas daily and as needed.
    • Safely stores samples, reagents, and consumables.
    • Performs basic molecular troubleshooting, including but not limited to potential sample degradation, unexpected control results, amplicon contamination, sample cross-contamination, reagent failing quality control, and instrument troubleshooting.
    • Performs basic statistical analysis of laboratory results.
  • Advanced biology and molecular biology skills (optional – depending on candidate’s experience. Training can be provided as needed.)
    • Design primers and probes.
    • Performs Sanger sequencing.
    • Performs wet lab procedures for next-generation sequencing (NGS) on Illumina, Oxford Nanopore, and/or Ion Torrent, and performs routine instrument maintenance, basic troubleshooting, and works with instrument technical support to resolve issues.
    • Uses and maintains automated liquid handlers and other robotics used in the laboratory.
    • Effectively uses instruments involved in library preparation and quantity/quality assessment of samples, including but not limited to MagnaPure instruments, TapeStation, Qubit or other fluorometers used to determine the quantity/concentration of nucleic acids and proteins.
    • Performs primary NGS data processing before analysis.
    • Uses bioinformatics tools such as but not limited to Geneious, CLC Main and/or Genomics Workbench, MEGA, Terra.bio, and Benchling.
    • Performs enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and/or other immunoassays.
  • Other laboratory tasks (optional – depending on candidate’s experience. Training can be provided as needed.)
    • Perform basic microbiology tasks including but not limited to
      • Prepares culture media.
      • Prepares freezer stocks of organisms or samples.
      • Plates primary specimens or stocked cultures on various media for colony isolation and recognizes colony morphology of organisms of interest.
      • Performs common microbiology staining procedures including but not limited to Gram stain, Acid-Fast Bacilli (AFB) and modified AFB stain, trichrome and modified trichrome stains, Giemsa and/or Wright Stain, and calcofluor white stain or any other fluorescent staining technique.
      • Performs microscopy and fluorescent microscopy and calibrates and maintains microscopes in optimal condition.
    • Complies with all CDC Thailand Laboratory’s quality management system aspects.
    • Documents all work and results in detail in a traceable manner and is accountable for the work performed by signing/initialing and dating each document. These documents include but are not limited to worksheets, QC sheets, preventive maintenance (PM) sheets, result printouts or reports, problem/incident logs, and phone or personal communication logs. Makes copies of these documents available (as relevant) for the APHL Southeast Asia Laboratory Technical Advisor to review monthly.
    • Performs tasks related to laboratory operations, including but not limited to maintaining inventory of reagents and consumables, tracking deliveries, performing and documenting reagent quality control, performing weekly safety checks, and performing proper biohazard and/or chemical waste disposal.
    • Reports to work daily at the CDC Thailand Laboratory and sends a summary of work accomplished to the APHL Southeast Asia Laboratory Technical Advisor weekly.
    • Report any critical findings or urgent issues promptly to the SEA Applied Science Hub Director, the CDC Thailand Laboratory Branch Chief and/or Deputy Laboratory Branch Chief, and the APHL Southeast Asia Laboratory Technical Advisor.
    • Works collaboratively with other MOPH departments when needed.
    • Actively participates in meetings, training sessions, workshops, or conferences as assigned by the APHL Southeast Asia Laboratory Technical Advisor and the SEA Applied Science Hub Director.
    • Attends progress report meetings at least quarterly with the APHL Southeast Asia Laboratory Technical Advisor, SEA Applied Science Hub Director, CDC Thailand Laboratory Branch Chief, and Deputy Laboratory Branch Chief.

• This is considered a temporary, journey-level position.
• This position requires the incumbent to have a strong background in molecular biology to be able to work safely in the laboratory and use best practices for biosafety and molecular biology.
• Knowledge and practical hands-on experience in molecular biology and experiment troubleshooting for at least 1 year is required.
• Knowledge and practical hands-on experience with NGS and/or bioinformatic experience is an advantage.
• Basic microbiology experience (research or clinical) is an advantage.
• Proficiency in English is required; competency in a language other than English is an advantage.
• Experience in writing scientific manuscripts is an advantage.
• Incumbents typically have a bachelor’s degree in areas related to molecular biology or molecular virology/microbiology. An advanced degree (Master's or Doctor of Philosophy) with experience in projects related to microbiology, molecular biology, molecular virology/microbiology, NGS, or bioinformatics is an advantage.

 

Knowledge of:  Laboratory quality management systems, laboratory biosafety, fire safety, best practices in molecular biology, molecular methods (as listed in the Duties and Responsibilities section), how to troubleshoot unexpected findings, basic statistical analyses commonly used in molecular biology, knowledge in molecular virology/microbiology, experience in NGS, bioinformatics, how to document and organize laboratory records for ease of review/audit, quality assurance, and how to work collaboratively within and between laboratories.

 

Skills: Laboratory and laboratory-related skills to perform tasks described in the Duties and Responsibilities section, Use of Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access database software, and email systems; excellent organizational, verbal, and written communication skills.

 

Abilities: Ability to establish working relationships with diverse groups; ability to work independently; organize work projects and complete tasks within assigned timeframes. 

 

Special Requirements:  None

The duties and responsibilities listed in this job description are illustrative ones anticipated for this position. Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned as required. Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) reserves the right to amend or change this job description to meet the needs of its programs. This job description and any attachments do not constitute or represent a contract.

Work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made for known physical or mental limitations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a colleague to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made for known physical or mental limitations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.
During the job, the colleague may need to sit for extended periods, use a computer keyboard to type, read information visually, and communicate orally through a computer monitor.

APHL is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veteran status, disability, age, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.