Molecular Technician

The Army Public Health Center (APHC) is located on Aberdeen Proving Ground South (Edgewood Area). The APHC mission is to enhance Army readiness by identifying and assessing current and emerging health threats, developing and communicating public health solutions, and assuring the quality and effectiveness of the Army's Public Health Enterprise. Their vision is to be a world-class provider of public health services across the Army and DOD. For more information about APHC please visit https://phc.amedd.army.mil. 

The Army Public Health Center is striving to develop and foster a collaboration between the Methods Development Branch (MDB), Laboratory Sciences, and the Entomological Sciences Division (ESD), to establish assays for the detection of knock down resistance (KDR) alleles in field collected mosquito populations using PCR techniques. With support from the mentor the participant will assist with establishing and implementing KDR testing capabilities in support of field collections aimed at characterizing the insecticide resistance status of mosquito populations on installations. This will entail learning the assays currently being adopted from the Navy Entomology Center or Excellence, USDA Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology detachment, and designing protocols to run on MDB equipment. The participant will also expand the KDR assay to include other mosquito genera as appropriate. This will entail literature reviews and data analyses to develop new primer-probe sets that are capable of targeting KDR alleles in the targeted genera. Once established, the participant will be able to test field collected samples, collating and analyzing data, and integrating the information within the broader entomological surveillance data system currently being developed at the ESD. As time allows, the participant will have the opportunity to also participate in CDC bottle assays to determine insecticide phenotypes of field collected mosquitoes and establish installation level diagnostic doses for targeted insecticides. Supporting insect rearing activities may also be required and taught in support of the Pesticide resistance mission. It is anticipated that the roll out of this program (targeting four installations) will result in the opportunity for peer-reviewed publications for motivated participants. Additionally, this project holds the potential to be expanded into the adoption of DNA barcoding technology for molecular identification of field collected mosquitoes and will be a follow-on project as we continue to build our pesticide resistance program support capabilities.

This appointment is a twelve month research appointment, with the possibility to be renewed for additional research periods. Appointments may be extended depending on funding availability, project assignment, program rules, and availability of the participant.

Participants will receive a stipend to be determined by APHC. Stipends are typically based on the participant’s academic standing, discipline, experience, and research facility location. Other benefits may include the following:

The participant will not enter into an employee/employer relationship with ORISE, ORAU, DOD, or any other office or agency. Instead, the participant will be affiliated with ORISE for the administration of the appointment through the ORISE appointment letter and Terms of Appointment.

While participants will not enter into an employment relationship with DOD or any other agency, this opportunity will require a suitability investigation/background investigation. Any offer made is considered tentative pending favorable outcome of the investigation.

Formal training in mosquito biology and control (experience or classroom instruction)

Preferred experience with: PCR and/or CDC bottle assay for detecting resistance to pesticides in insects, DNA barcoding technology, vector-borne disease surveillance