Researcher

Penn State University•Tallahassee, FL

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

This is a term position focused on scientific leadership and project management within research related to urinary tract infection, mucosal and epithelial biology, host–pathogen interactions, aging, and related areas. The role involves advancing projects from experimental planning through publication, coordinating research activities, and evaluating emerging findings. The position also requires designing, conducting, and overseeing complex experiments, providing expertise in experimental models, and supporting studies utilizing various biological systems. The Researcher will serve as a senior scientific resource, assist faculty with research projects, and train personnel in specialized experimental methods. The role includes presenting research findings at meetings and conferences, and maintaining high standards for scientific documentation.

Requirements

PhD or equivalent doctoral degree in microbiology, immunology, molecular biology, cell biology, biomedical sciences, or a closely related discipline.
Postdoctoral research training and experience required.
Demonstrated record of scientific productivity, including peer-reviewed publications.
Demonstrated ability to independently design, execute, troubleshoot, analyze, and interpret complex research studies.
Experience leading or coordinating scientific projects and advancing projects toward publication.
Strong expertise in molecular, cellular, microbiological, and/or in vivo experimental approaches.
Experience working collaboratively with faculty investigators, trainees, technical staff, and scientific collaborators.
Excellent scientific writing, data interpretation, organizational, and communication skills.
Ability to manage multiple concurrent scientific priorities and provide leadership within a collaborative research environment.

Nice To Haves

Research experience in urinary tract infection, bacterial pathogenesis, mucosal or epithelial biology, host–pathogen interactions, aging, or related areas.
Experience with mouse models of infection, inflammation, aging, or related disease processes.
Experience with genetically modified mouse models and experimental cohort planning.
Experience with primary tissues, advanced imaging, organoid systems, or other translational experimental models.
Demonstrated experience mentoring students, research technologists, postdoctoral fellows, or other research personnel.
Strong publication record with evidence of substantial intellectual contributions to research projects.
Experience contributing to NIH or other federally funded research programs, including manuscripts, preliminary data, progress reports, and grant applications.

Responsibilities

Lead and coordinate basic and translational research projects focused on urinary tract infection, mucosal and epithelial biology, host–pathogen interactions, aging, and related areas.
Take responsibility for advancing assigned projects from experimental planning through data generation, analysis, interpretation, and publication.
Coordinate research activities involving multiple investigators, trainees, research staff, core facilities, and collaborators.
Monitor project progress, identify scientific or operational barriers, and develop strategies to maintain momentum and achieve research objectives.
Evaluate emerging findings and relevant scientific literature to identify new hypotheses, experimental approaches, and opportunities for collaboration.
Design, conduct, oversee, and troubleshoot complex experiments using molecular, cellular, microbiological, imaging, and in vivo approaches.
Provide expertise in experimental (mouse) models of urinary tract infection and associated epithelial, immune, and inflammatory responses.
Support studies utilizing primary tissues, cell culture, organoid systems, genetically modified mouse models, and other translational disease models.
Develop, optimize, and standardize experimental protocols and workflows.
Ensure rigor, reproducibility, appropriate controls, and quality assurance across experimental studies.
Perform specialized experiments when advanced scientific or technical expertise is required.
Serve as a senior scientific resource for faculty investigators and research teams.
Assist faculty with development and execution of new or ongoing research projects.
Support collaborative and multi-investigator studies within and outside the research group.
Train personnel in specialized experimental methods and promote rigorous and reproducible research practices.
Participate actively in laboratory and project meetings, journal clubs, and scientific discussions.
Help foster an intellectually engaged, collaborative, and productive research environment.
Present research findings at laboratory meetings and national or international scientific conferences, contribute to abstracts, presentations, progress reports, and other scientific communications.
Maintain high standards for scientific documentation, data integrity, and reproducibility.