School of Medicine Established in 1930, Duke University School of Medicine is the youngest of the nation’s top medical schools. Ranked sixth among medical schools in the nation, the School takes pride in being an inclusive community of outstanding learners, investigators, clinicians, and staff where interdisciplinary collaboration is embraced and great ideas accelerate translation of fundamental scientific discoveries to improve human health locally and around the globe. Composed of more than 2,500 faculty physicians and researchers, more than 1,300 students, and more than 6,000 staff, the Duke University School of Medicine along with the Duke University School of Nursing, Duke University Health System and the Private Diagnostic Clinic (PDC) comprise Duke Health. a world-class academic medical center. The Health System encompasses Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, Duke Primary Care, Duke Home and Hospice, Duke Health and Wellness, and multiple affiliations.

The Duke Center for Human Systems Immunology (CHSI) is seeking a detail-oriented scientist to conduct quality control experiments and assist with reagent inventory management in support of clinical trials and pre-clinical studies for multiple human pathogens in the Tomaras laboratory at the Antibody Dynamics and Immune Function Division. https://chsi.duke.edu/divisions/antibody-dynamics-and-immune-function

Job duties include:
1) Managing the quality control and inventory of reagents necessary for multiple binding antibody assay platforms, including Luminex, ELISA, and Meso-Scale Discovery.

2) Performance of qualified/validated binding antibody assays and analysis of acquired data to ensure performance of reagents in accordance with Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP) standards.

3) Coordination with multiple lab stakeholders to determine weekly testing priorities, ensure performance and quality of assay reagents in the context of historical data, and to maintain updated and accurate reagent inventories for timely release to laboratory scientists.

4) Assist in development and qualification/validation of novel assays to assess immune responses to candidate vaccines for diseases of global importance (e.g., HIV, SARS, -CoV-2, TB, malaria, rotavirus)

Work Performed

• Work closely with Lab Operations Team and laboratory scientists to ensure that all required reagent documentation is available and up to date (e.g., certificate of analysis, safety data sheet). Maintain accurate and current reagent inventory records, including updating existing inventory database based on quality control assay results.
• Collaborate with lab managers and other stakeholders to develop plans for testing new and expired reagents, including designing experiments to thoroughly assess reagent performance and suitability for downstream use in binding antibody assays. Investigate and troubleshoot as needed when reagent or assay performance is not consistent with historical data or does not pass pre-set acceptance criteria.
• Analyze and interpret collected reagent data and prepare documentation of reagent performance for lab managers and stakeholders. Ensure streamlined processes to facilitate rapid release of QC’d reagents in support of assay testing and clinical trial deadlines.
• Prepare for and participate in regular laboratory audits of quality control processes and inventories conducted by the Quality Assurance for Duke Vaccine Immunogenicity Programs and by external collaborators including the NIH/DAIDS.
• Assist with development of new qualified/validated assays to assess immune responses to vaccine candidates. Assist with writing Standard Operating Procedures and qualification/validation documentation.
• Collaborate with Duke and external investigators, research personnel and staff within the CHSI to solve specific operating problems and improve technical activities. Advise on technical procedures, techniques, and equipment, and maintain conformance with specific operational standards.
• Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein. Work described for this position requires being present on-site in a laboratory environment.

Minimum Qualifications
Education
Work requires a bachelor's degree in botany, biology, zoology, psychology or other directly related scientific field.

Experience
Work requires two years of research experience. A related master's degree may offset required years of experience on a 1:1 basis, e.g., a two-year master's degree in lieu of two years of experience. OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.