About the position
Seize your opportunity to make a personal impact as a Forensic Scientist supporting a Defense Health Agency Organization. GDIT is your place to make meaningful contributions to challenging projects and grow a rewarding career. HOW A FORENSIC SCIENTIST WILL MAKE AN IMPACT: * Assist in program maintenance and development at the direction of their designated supervisor. * Supervise staff performing investigative studies on tissue identification by DNA typing technologies, carry out DNA typing casework. * May testify as an expert witness as required; provide technical assistance in the area of bioinformatics, information technology and laboratory automation; and support logistical or resource management activities. * Participate in the organization and presentation of educational activities. * Set up and make operationally ready a wide variety of laboratory instruments and equipment. * Write, review, and edit experimental protocols, standard operating procedures, and operating instructions for projects of experimental programs, service casework procedures and general laboratory management operations. * Assist in quality assurance activities such as standards maintenance, equipment preventive maintenance, reagent testing & validation, proficiency testing, and accreditation and certification. * Conduct inspections and provide oversight to the adherence to established quality assurance activities including maintenance of standards and controls, preventive maintenance and equipment calibration, reagent testing and validation, and proficiency testing programs for accreditation or certification. * Perform general laboratory housekeeping activities such as maintaining appropriate working-stock levels of expendable supplies and maintaining a clean environment within laboratory work areas. * Perform investigative studies on tissue identification by DNA typing technologies. * Maintain documentation of methods development and research activities in accordance with standard practice. * May supervise/perform service casework involving routine nuclear and mtDNA typing and profiling procedures. Prepare formal written reports of service casework or research reports that contain professional interpretations and conclusions from the test data, and that are suitable for legal presentation in a court of law. * Review casework and formal written reports. * May serve as an Assistant Technical leader within casework sections or as a section lead within non-casework sections. * Assist in program maintenance and development at the direction of their designated supervisor. * Supervise staff performing investigative studies on tissue identification by DNA typing technologies and to carry out DNA typing casework. * Individual may testify as an expert witness as required; provide technical assistance in the area of bioinformatics, information technology and laboratory automation; and support logistical or resource management activities. * Participate in the organization and presentation of educational activities. * May serve as a Supervisory DNA Analyst.
Responsibilities
- Assist in program maintenance and development at the direction of their designated supervisor.
- Supervise staff performing investigative studies on tissue identification by DNA typing technologies, carry out DNA typing casework.
- Testify as an expert witness as required; provide technical assistance in bioinformatics, information technology and laboratory automation; and support logistical or resource management activities.
- Participate in the organization and presentation of educational activities.
- Set up and make operationally ready a wide variety of laboratory instruments and equipment.
- Write, review, and edit experimental protocols, standard operating procedures, and operating instructions for projects of experimental programs, service casework procedures and general laboratory management operations.
- Assist in quality assurance activities such as standards maintenance, equipment preventive maintenance, reagent testing & validation, proficiency testing, and accreditation and certification.
- Conduct inspections and provide oversight to the adherence to established quality assurance activities including maintenance of standards and controls, preventive maintenance and equipment calibration, reagent testing and validation, and proficiency testing programs for accreditation or certification.
- Perform general laboratory housekeeping activities such as maintaining appropriate working-stock levels of expendable supplies and maintaining a clean environment within laboratory work areas.
- Maintain documentation of methods development and research activities in accordance with standard practice.
- Supervise/perform service casework involving routine nuclear and mtDNA typing and profiling procedures. Prepare formal written reports of service casework or research reports that contain professional interpretations and conclusions from the test data, and that are suitable for legal presentation in a court of law.
- Review casework and formal written reports.
Requirements
- Bachelor's (or its equivalent) or an advanced degree in a biology, chemistry, forensic science or physical sciences.
- Successfully completed a minimum of 9 cumulative semester hours or equivalent (graduate or undergraduate level) course work covering biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology; and course work and/or training in statistics and/or population genetics as it applies to forensic DNA analysis.
- 4+ years of related experience.
Nice-to-haves
- 1+ years of related experience including specialized experience in forensic DNA laboratory experience obtained at a laboratory where forensic DNA testing was conducted for the identification and evaluation of biological evidence in criminal matters.
- A minimum of 3 years of human DNA (current or previous) experience as a qualified analyst on forensic samples.
- Knowledge and experience in FBI QA Accreditation requirements; filing techniques; administrative typing; preparing and editing technical or general documentation using various software packages such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Excel and Windows.
Benefits
- 401K with company match
- Comprehensive health and wellness packages
- Internal mobility team dedicated to helping you own your career
- Professional growth opportunities including paid education and certifications
- Cutting-edge technology you can learn from
- Paid vacation and holidays
