Job Abstract

The Alaka`ina Foundation Family of Companies (FOCs) has a need for a Research Scientist to support Neurotherapeutics and Medical Device Research for our government customer located in Silver Spring, MD.

DESCRIPTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Areas of research to include but are not limited to:
  • Kinetic and non-kinetic TBI
  • Injury biomechanics
  • Cellular biology
  • Biomarkers
  • Neuropathology
  • PTSD
  • Sleep rhythmicity
  • Combat stress
  • Psychological and physiological stress
  • Resilience
• Engage in all aspects of original research protocol development and collaborative research efforts towards evaluation of neurotherapeutics and medical device safety and efficacy for the prevention and treatment in pre-clinical models of mild to severe TBI, with and without polytrauma including effective integration of existing literature, developing novel research protocols.
• Develop research proposals aligned with the military research and development mission of BTN.
  • Prepare written animal use and/or human subjects protocols to achieve these research objectives.
  • Submitted proposals shall support the development and execution of research protocols aiming to develop evidence-based knowledge products and interventions to optimize the readiness and resilience of Soldiers.
  • This shall include effectively navigating the WRAIR Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), Human Use Review Committee (HURC), and/or the Human Subjects Protection Branch (HSPB) to obtain approval of research protocols.
  • Draft original research protocols and effectively addressing concerns and issues raised by the respective committees during protocol review.
• Conduct literature reviews and develop summary reports of existing scientific literature. This shall include routinely reviewing the scientific literature for reports relevant to ongoing research in blast TBI and polytrauma.
• Coordinate research projects, which shall include the design and coordination of experiments, direction of research staff (e.g., post-doctoral fellows, research associates and assistants) and collaborators in the execution of these experiments and providing insights into experimental objectives and techniques best suited to achieve these objectives.
• Develop and evaluate therapeutic strategies to detect and mitigate molecular, cellular, clinical, and functional alterations induced by TBI or TBI with polytrauma to support the branch research objectives, performance of complex tasks, and as needed, develop new technical methods for neuroscience, injury, and blast research.
• Assess physiological and neurosensory function and neurobehavior applying the animal handling, aseptic procedures and routine animal care and monitoring required for these assessments. This shall include performing routine and specialized surgical procedures with animal experimental subjects to address traumatic brain and systemic injury.
• Employ aseptic surgical procedures including, but not limited to, stereotaxic cannulation surgery, microinjection of dyes, or surgical implantation of probes for physiological recordings such as Electroencephalogram (EEG), temperature, and pressure (A.030).
• Evaluate neuroprotective pharmacological therapies using behavioral, physiological, histopathological, and neurochemical outcome measures. These tests shall include, but are not limited to, Morris water maze, rotarod, novel object recognition, elevated plus maze, monitoring weight and temperature, cerebral blood flow and cerebrovascular evaluations, righting reflex, EEG recording of seizure and sleep, necropsy, and tissue sample collection procedures.
• Perform quantitative analytical assessments of changes in molecular and cellular mediators underlying responses to stressors, injury, and countermeasures to these disruptions using histopathological, biomedical, and molecular techniques such as immunohistochemistry, proteomics, lipidomics, analyses of mRNA, miRNA, and micro array protein analysis, bioenergetic profiling, quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Western blot, multiplex assays, and Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA).
• Collect, analyze, and interpret experimental data using instruments and methods to include but not limited to rodent and large animal TBI models, behavior and physiological testing, histology, neuroimaging, as well as cellular and molecular biology in order to support development of promising therapeutic strategies.
• Submit funding proposals to support novel research efforts in the areas of developing novel TBI therapeutic interventions (e.g., drugs and medical devices) and theragnostic biomarkers, mitigating underlining clinical/scientific gaps in neurotrauma mechanisms and treatment/protection, and thereby improving the management of TBI and polytrauma.

REQUIRED DEGREE/EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION:

• Must have graduate level training and proficiency in statistical analysis, biomedical research, and quantitative analysis.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Must have the knowledge, skills, and abilities in multiple relevant academic disciplines, including:
  • Biomedical and Mechanical Engineering
  • Neuroscience
  • Psychology
  • Pharmacology
  • Biochemistry
  • Neuroanatomy
• Must have firm grasp of research methods, data collections, data management, statistics, data analysis, manuscript development, leading presentations.
• Must hold a functional understanding of military requirements and circumstances.
• Prior Direct Experience supporting areas of research to include but not limited to:
  • Kinetic and non-kinetic TBI
  • Injury biomechanics
  • Cellular biology
  • Biomarkers
  • Neuropathology
  • PTSD
  • Sleep rhythmicity
  • Combat stress
  • Psychological and physiological stress
  • Resilience

REQUIRED CITIZENSHIP AND CLEARANCE:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Must have an active Public Trust clearance.

?The Alaka`ina Foundation Family of Companies (FOCs) is a fast-growing government service provider. Employees enjoy competitive salaries. Eligible full-time employees enjoy a 401K plan with company match; medical, dental, disability, and life insurance coverage; tuition reimbursement; paid time off; and 11 paid holidays.

We are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We are proud to state that we do not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status. If you are a person with a disability and you need an accommodation during the application process, please click here to request accommodation. We E-Verify all employees.

The Alaka`ina Foundation Family of Companies (FOCs) is comprised of industry-recognized government service firms designated as Native Hawaiian Organization (NHO)-owned and 8(a) certified businesses. The Family of Companies (FOCs) includes Ke`aki Technologies, Laulima Government Solutions, Kupono Government Services, and Kapili Services, Po`okela Solutions, Kikaha Solutions, LLC, and Pololei Solutions, LLC. Alaka`ina Foundation activities principally benefit the youth of Hawaii through charitable efforts which includes providing innovative educational programs that combine leadership, science & technology, and environmental stewardship.

For additional information, please visit www.alakainafoundation.com.

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