Senior Microbiologist

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory•Laurel, MD

27d•Onsite

About The Position

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) is seeking a highly motivated Senior Microbiologist to join the Biological Sciences Group within the Research Exploratory Development Department. This role focuses on engineering microbial metabolic pathways, biocorrosion, and biomaterials, contributing to APL's mission of providing impactful solutions to critical challenges, particularly in national security. The position offers an opportunity to be at the forefront of molecular biology research and development.

Requirements

PhD in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Biological Engineering, or a similar field.
1+ year experience designing, running, and troubleshooting a wide range of biological assays.
Web lab experience culturing, assaying, and manipulating bacterial species.
Proficient in basic molecular biology techniques, including DNA and RNA manipulation and analysis, qPCR and plate-reader assay development, and microscopy techniques.
Able to obtain an Interim Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain a TS/SCI level clearance.
U.S. citizenship is required for security clearance eligibility.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with non-model organisms like Rhodopseudomonas palustris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, or Komagataeibacter sucrofermentans.
Expertise culturing and manipulating anaerobic microbes.
Experience with assays characterizing microbial surface colonization and biofilm formation.
Previous experience in genetic engineering techniques, metabolic engineering, or biomaterials.
Experience with environmental microbiology, fungi, or microbiome systems.

Responsibilities

Contribute to projects involving engineering of non-model microbes.
Work with a variety of non-model fungi and bacterial systems.
Lead projects and teams for both internally funded and externally funded efforts in research areas such as engineering microbial metabolic pathways, biocorrosion, and biomaterials.
Support new business development activities to expand program scope within the Research and Exploratory Development Department and other business areas across APL, including concept development, proposal writing, and project execution.
Provide leadership in the development of new opportunities and support internal initiatives, driving technical innovation and growth in areas relevant to APL sponsors.
Participate in the broader APL community by presenting data to interdisciplinary groups and to department management.
Develop and maintain effective working relationships with external sponsors.
Assist and collaborate with scientists in support of laboratory-based experimentation.