Research Scientist/Engineer Assistant - Department of Global Health (Temporary)

University of Washington•Seattle, WA

10d•Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Global Health has an outstanding opportunity for a Research Scientist/Engineer Assistant (Temporary) to join their team. Reporting to the Director, Chlamydia Lab & Neisseria Reference Lab, the Research Scientist/Engineer Assistant is responsible for conducting culture-based surveillance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, including species identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing using standardized laboratory methods. They will also perform molecular detection and characterization of STI pathogens through PCR, sequencing, and automated diagnostic platforms. In addition, the candidate will support laboratory operations, quality assurance efforts, and collaborative activities to ensure accurate, efficient, and high-quality testing. The successful candidate will be highly responsible, meticulous, and very organized. Candidates should have acquired basic microbiology skills and should be interested in spending much of their time preparing antimicrobial-containing culture media for susceptibility testing and be willing to learn and demonstrate competency in performing bacterial antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Additionally, the candidate should be interested in learning molecular techniques for detection of STI pathogens and resistance determinants. Evidence of outstanding scholarship in microbiology and other science courses as an undergraduate is highly desirable. The salary information provided below is for a full-time temporary position and will be 100% FTE. Opportunity for 9-12 months depending on the length of project.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Microbiology or other scientific field, e.g. Molecular Biology or Biochemistry, and less than one year of relevant experience.
Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration.
Willing to train for 3-6 weeks on antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
Demonstrate proficiency by testing panels of blind isolates (2 times/year) and participate in 6 other proficiency testing events for molecular testing performed in the laboratory.
Support ongoing rigorous quality assessment and continuous laboratory improvement activities.
Have a working knowledge of general lab procedures and protocols.
Demonstrated ability to work independently and to proactively communicate with supervisor and collaborators regarding research progress and lab management.
High degree of organization and meticulousness.
Ability to take on responsibility.
Ability to work well with other laboratory staff.

Nice To Haves

Excellent molecular biology laboratory skills.
Depth of expertise in Gram-stain, microscopy, qPCR and nucleic acid amplification testing, cell culture and microscopy.
Experience in antimicrobial susceptibility testing by Etest and/agar dilution.
Experience performing APTIMA nucleic acid amplification test.
Experience with PCR testing methods and sequencing technologies.
Good laboratory practice (GLP) skills.
Experience working in a clinical or research environment.
Bacteriology and molecular biology research experience.
Research experience with real-time PCR and traditional PCR techniques.
Professional, flexible, and hardworking with a strong attention to detail and ability to organize and maintain accurate records.
Evidence of outstanding scholarship in microbiology and other science courses as an undergraduate is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Conduct Neisseria gonorrhoeae culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing by agar dilution and Etest following established protocols.
Perform species confirmatory tests for Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
Participate in and support quality assessment and continuous laboratory improvement activities.
Participate in lab meetings and network with coworkers and collaborators.
General laboratory maintenance including cleaning of glassware, temperature logs/charts of laboratory equipment, preparing reagents and chemical solutions, freezer organization and inventory of isolates, shipment of specimens.
Molecular detection of STI pathogens using the fully automated Hologic Panther System.
Purification of high molecular weight genomic DNA for Next Generation Sequencing.
PCR and sequencing of PCR products for strain subtyping and characterization of antibiotic resistance determinants
Participate in diagnostic test validation and optimization of new test methods.
Data processing and analysis using excel and bioinformatics software.
Contribute data for use in publications or conference presentations.