Senior Research Scholar - Genome Editing Center

North Carolina State University•Raleigh, NC

40d

About The Position

As part of the Land Grant University, the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University is composed of over 40 faculty that direct a varied portfolio of programs in teaching, research, and extension. Collectively, these strengths not only serve our clientele and our science but also provide a rich environment for graduate education and training that can be tailored to the specific career interests of the student, irrespective of whether they prefer training in the basic sciences or are preparing for a career in extension. Our education and research programs provide graduate and undergraduate students with unique hands-on learning opportunities using the latest technologies. Entomology and Plant Pathology houses the Plant Disease and Insect Clinic, the Larry Grand Mycological Herbarium, Micropropagation and Repository Unit, Structural Pest Management Training Facility, an Insect Museum with 1.9 million vouchered insects, and the Center for Integrated Fungal Research. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences houses 12 Academic departments with 294 faculty, 2,891 undergraduate students and 899 graduate students. The College is home to 18 research stations strategically located across the state that enhances our interactions with our farmers, stakeholders, and industry partners. Our strategic plan, Growing Our Future 2023-2030 is accessible here https://units.cals.ncsu.edu/cals-strategic-plan/. Wolfpack Perks and Benefits As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Proposition and learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone. This position serves as a cornerstone role within the Genome Editing Center, leading the development and optimization of vector design, gene expression systems, and genome editing protocols across a variety of monocot and dicot crops. The role provides both scientific and operational leadership, bridging strategy, execution, and collaboration across interdisciplinary research teams. The position ensures technical excellence, consistency, and innovation in genome editing and assay development to support the Center's research goals and partnerships.

Requirements

Ph.D. and 10+ years research experience in molecular biology and specifically vector construction, assay development, molecular analysis, and genome engineering in industry and academic settings, including leadership of teams.
Expertise in Molecular Biology and Genome Editing
Technical Leadership and Laboratory Management
Experimental Design and Data Analysis
Collaboration and Communication
Innovation and Problem Solving

Nice To Haves

5+ years of industry experience, including leading teams of scientists

Responsibilities

Lead the development, execution, and refinement of genome editing protocols
Produce training materials and SOPs to support visiting scientists
and new team members
Provide technical leadership and stability within the lab
Operate independently while fostering a collaborative team culture
Working on core data to support patent applications and publication examples, including statistical analysis
Leading small teams and training of new Ph.D.'s and post docs
Keeping data firewalls between projects
Tracking data and pipeline efficiency through the lab
Documenting research progress and changes to protocols and adherence to training schedules in the lab, as well as ensuring safety plan compliance