Malaria Prevention Research Scientist

The U.S. Army Medical Directorate of the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences resides at the Royal Thai Army Medical Center in Bangkok. It is a directorate of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) under the U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command (USAMRMC). USAMD-AFRIMS conducts state of the art medical research and disease surveillance to develop and evaluate medical products, vaccines, and diagnostics to protect DOD personnel from infectious disease threats.

WRAIR-AFRIMS is offering a learning opportunity to participate in malaria prevention research. As an ORISE participant, you will take part in current and novel methods for personal protection. The research will be conducted with military and civilian populations in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia with initial emphasis placed on the evaluation of the durability of insecticide-treated uniforms in the field, evaluation of the effectiveness of treated uniforms in the prevention of insect biting, acceptability of treated uniforms by military personnel and characterization of wear patterns of treated uniform in military populations. Future additions to research will include the introduction of spatial repellents into treated uniform evaluations. Spatial repellent operational challenges, such as introducing longer-lasting formulations and evaluating more efficient delivery systems to increase user acceptance and cost-effectiveness, will be explored. The Bacterial and Parasitic Diseases Department (BPD) and the Defense Malaria Assistance Program (DMAP) seek a proven researcher with the necessary background to advance malaria prevention research.

During your appointment, you will acquire additional expertise in the development and execution of malaria intervention and personal protection projects with host foreign militaries. This includes planning and conducting in-laboratory and field durability trials for uniforms by organizing uniform treatment and assessing the chemical content in uniforms after use. Additionally, the project allows you, as the researcher, to acquire concepts and methods for conducting laboratory and field tests evaluating treated materials to repel, kill, or deter anopheline mosquitoes. You will further learn to field and determine the usefulness of an assay to detect antibodies against mosquito saliva, allowing evaluation of treated-uniform efficacy against malaria vectors in the field without evaluating the prevention of malaria infections in areas with low malaria transmission. Spatial repellents have yet to be evaluated extensively for malaria reduction, with almost no disease interdiction trials in SE Asia. The senior investigator will collaborate with the University of California San Francisco to expand knowledge on treatment, dispersal, and efficacy of spatial repellents such as transfluthrin and metofluthrin.

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 WRAIR. 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.