ABSO

The Assistant Biosafety Officer supports the duties of the Biosafety Officer and assists the research and clinical community at BCM with biosafety needs and activities. The ABSO serves on different BCM Standing Committees, including the Environmental Safety Committee (ESC), Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) and Institutional Review Board (IRB), and reviews IBC, ESC and IACUC protocols and performs laboratory and facility inspections for laboratories working with biological agents and recombinant DNA. The ABSO assists with maintaining the BSL-3/3E facility and participates in CDC/DOT/USDA inspections. The position is also tasked with assisting the BSO in running the International Air Transport Association (IATA) training program and the Autoclave Surveillance and Tracking program. The ABSO also supervises interns and temporary hires the biological safety program brings in.

Supports the daily operations of Baylor College of Medicine’s Biological Safety program and supports the duties of the Biosafety Officer, serving as the Alternate Official for purposes of state, local, and federal programs. 

• Conducts risk assessments, laboratory audits, and ensure compliance with biosafety regulations and protocols for BSL-2 and BSL-3/3E facilities.
• Assists RO with annual select agent facility’s verification, training and updating all documentation of Select Agent Registry.
• Assists BSO with all regulatory requests from local, state, and federal agencies.
• Participates in CDC inspections related to biological safety at Baylor.
• Liaises with different BCM departments and external vendors/contractors for routine maintenance of BCM’s BSL‐3/3E facility to ensure safety of BCM researchers working with highly pathogenic biological agents. 
• Assists the BSO with completing required annual commissioning of the facility, meeting the requirements from the CDC, FSAP and NIH.
• Assists with all incidents/emergency responses inside the BSL-3/3E facility.
• Assists BSO in training new researchers in the BSL-3/3E facility on entering/exiting procedures, donning/doffing personal protective equipment, standard operating procedures, spill response, incident response and security requirements.
• Serves on different BCM Standing Committees including Environmental Safety Committee (ESC), Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) and Institutional Review Board (IRB).
• Reviews IBC, ESC and IACUC protocols and insuring compliance with NIH and CDC regulations and guidelines pertaining to the use, handling, and disposal of potentially biohazardous and rDNA materials. 
• Works with PI’s to provide expertise on biosafety related issues when submitting protocols.
• Participates in BCM’s semi-annual IACUC animal facility inspections in accordance with AAALAC. 
• Ensures that each laboratory has emergency plans for dealing with accidental spills and personnel contamination, and for investigating research laboratory accidents.
• Trains and tracks compliance with IATA shipping across BCM.
• Provides technical advice and evaluations of laboratory spaces for safe use of biological agents.
• Surveys autoclaves across campus to ensure compliance with institutional policies and state regulations.
• Assists BSO with Department of Transportation inspections dealing with the shipment of infectious materials.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

• Bachelor's degree.
• Four years of relevant experience.

• Must be able to pass an FBI fingerprinting and background check in accordance with the 42 CFR 73 Select Agent Regulations. 
• Master’s degree in basic or applied sciences or a related field
• Experience in environmental health and safety in an academic setting. This includes experience in the following: Biological safety, Chemical safety, Radiation safety, Environmental protection, and/or occupational safety. .
• Experience in biological safety with a strong understanding of laboratory procedures
• Preferred Certifications: Board Certification as a Certified Biological Safety Professional (CBSP), Registered Biological Safety Professional (RBP), Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM), Certified in Public Health (CPH), Certified Health Physicist (CHP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), and Certified Safety Professional (CSP).