Research Associate

Job Responsibilities

• Design and construct engineered microbial strains using molecular and synthetic biology techniques
• Perform cloning workflows, including vector construction (e.g., suicide and shuttle vectors), DNA transformation, and conjugation
• Conduct strain screening, selection, and counterselection to identify successful modifications
• Support development of genetic systems for non-model and anaerobic microorganisms
• Optimize microbial strains for expression and secretion of target biomolecules
• Execute assays to evaluate protein expression and secretion (e.g., fluorescence/luminescence assays, Western blotting)
• Maintain accurate records and inventory of engineered strains
• Apply anaerobic techniques when working with oxygen-sensitive organisms
• Review and stay current with scientific literature in strain engineering and synthetic biology
• Ensure detailed and accurate documentation of experimental work
• Contribute to a high-accountability, collaborative laboratory environment

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, or a related field
• Minimum of 3+ years of hands-on laboratory experience in microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, or strain engineering
• Practical experience with genetic manipulation techniques and microbial systems
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail in recordkeeping

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with anaerobic microorganisms and anaerobic culturing techniques
• Familiarity with laboratory automation tools (e.g., liquid handlers, automated DNA extraction systems)
• Experience with data analysis tools (e.g., R, RNA-seq, or other omics datasets)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple experiments and timelines simultaneously
• High standards for scientific integrity, data quality, and reproducibility
• Collaborative mindset with strong interpersonal skills