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Scientist - Systems Immunology (Technical Expert)

Arlington, VA

Valiant Harbor International is a CVE Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business that specializes in technical, program, acquisition, and financial services for Government science and technology, research and development, and technological programs. Valiant Harbor International emphasizes an intense focus on helping federal government agencies identify and address organizational challenges to tailor and integrate specific solutions to solve their most difficult problems. Success is defined by our ability to meet our customers’ needs quickly, efficiently, and effectively—we are a management consulting firm with a successful record of offering a wide range of professional, scientific, and technical services requiring a high degree of expertise and training.

Job Description
Valiant Harbor International is seeking an Immunologist (Technical Expert) to provide state of the art (SOTA) subject matter expertise on the state of systems immunology concepts and technologies supporting the Advanced Research Project Agency for Health (ARPA-H) Mission Offices and Research Sprints (MO/RS).  Mission Offices are core organizational units within ARPA-H focusing on a specific area of health research, and Research Sprints are funded initiatives designed to rapidly accelerate innovation in specific areas.  This position will support all facets of systems immunology research and technical development within ARPA-H, providing insights on conceptual and technical soundness of programmatic goals in the context of assessment and modulation of the immune and inflammatory response, helping to set goals, expectations, and program budgets, and assist in providing oversight of funded projects performance. 

Responsibilities

  • Serve as a subject matter expert (SME) in systems immunology research and technical development; provide technical expertise to research, analyze and summarize findings of emerging technologies and associated policy issues.
  • Provide expert input in developing and researching ideas and recommendations (including strategic and technical plans) for new programs concepts and technologies, as well as assessing strengths and weaknesses of R&D proposal objectives and methodologies.
  • Support the development and implementation of risk management strategies at both agency and program levels to mitigate technical risk and potential program impacts of failure; review, assess, define, and provide recommendations to identify and mitigate technical risks, and assist with independent assessments of laboratory and test results to help determine risk or risk mitigation strategies. 
  • Assist with testing and/or demonstrations as required to develop test requirements, configurations, detailed test plans, and implementation and inspection of safety requirements.
  • Conduct quantitative analyses of technology/system mission requirements as they pertain to the potential insertion of advanced technologies; evaluate alternatives and trade-offs, costs and benefits, investigate compatibility, interoperability, and integration, and study reliability issues.
  • Assist with planning, preparing and implementing policies and strategies for technology transition and commercialization; coordinate efforts with transition partners to determine capability needs and ensure proper translation to R&D objectives; advise on commercial markets, strategies, intellectual property, and supply chain considerations, and organize commercialization workshops and mentorship programs.
  • Assemble and manage senior advisory panels consisting of highly skilled individuals with expert training and background to provide studies and assessments on a wide variety of systems and technologies. Provide such assessments and analysis in identified format at time of request.
  • Assist in the annual budget process, ensuring appropriate coverage and technology shortfalls are addressed, and support narrative and budgetary input to data calls as required.
  • Serve as a technical expert in support of new and ongoing programs during program reviews, site visits, demonstrations, and other program events.


Required Skills & Experience

  • Must possess or be able to obtain a Tier-2 Public Trust security clearance.
  • Ph.D. in Immunology or related field.
  • 14 years’ applicable experience in R&D; experience in a deadline-driven environment (industry, ARPA) is preferred.
  • Demonstrated expertise in Systems Immunology research and technical development.
  • Experience managing R&D programs from inception to closeout is also highly desirable.
  • Skill in conceiving, planning, and conducting research in problem areas of considerable scope and complexity requiring unconventional or novel approaches and sophisticated research techniques; experience in the use of advanced techniques, theories, precepts, and practices.
  • Experience in computational modeling and/or machine learning (AI).
  • Ability to independently conduct the appropriate analysis to offer recommendations, solutions, and alternatives to resolve R&D issues or concerns; experience in reviewing and assessing research proposals, objectives, and methodologies.
  • Demonstrated ability to make decisions independently.
  • Proficiency in programming languages, statistical software, and bioinformatics tools is desired.
  • Experience with program management and budgeting.
  • Strong oral and written communication skills.


Salary Range: $135,000.00 - $175,000.00

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