Senior Research Scientist

Neogen Corporation•Lansing, MI

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This role combines molecular assay development, bioinformatics, genomics, and pathogen microbiology and applied statistics to create practical nucleic acid-based solutions for foodborne pathogen detection. The Senior Research Scientist will provide hands-on scientific and laboratory leadership, guiding work from genomic target identification and primer and probe design through assay optimization and analytical performance evaluation. This individual will also provide the technical data and expertise needed to support verification, validation, product transfer, and commercialization in collaboration with cross-functional teams.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Genomics, Bioinformatics, Biochemistry, or a related scientific discipline with at least 8 years of relevant experience; Master’s degree with at least 6 years of relevant experience; or Ph.D. with at least 3 years of relevant experience.
Demonstrated experience designing, optimizing, and troubleshooting nucleic acid-based assays, including primer/probe design, assay controls, multiplex assay development, and interpretation of amplification data.
Strong experience using bioinformatics, comparative genomics, and sequence-analysis tools to support molecular assay development.
Substantial hands-on laboratory experience developing and troubleshooting molecular assays using foodborne pathogens or closely related microbial systems, with the ability and interest to remain actively engaged in laboratory work.
Experience planning, executing, and interpreting analytical performance studies, including sensitivity, specificity, robustness, repeatability, reproducibility, and limit-of-detection studies.
Experience utilizing public and commercial genomic resources such as NCBI GenBank, RefSeq, SRA, GenomeTrakr, EnteroBase, and other microbial genomic databases.
Working knowledge of applied statistics and experimental design used in assay development and performance evaluation.
Ability to lead complex technical projects, make evidence-based decisions, and translate scientific findings into practical molecular detection solutions.
Strong written and verbal scientific communication skills, including technical reports, protocols, presentations, publications, and cross-functional decision support.

Nice To Haves

An advanced degree is preferred.
Experience with tools such as NCBI BLAST, Geneious, Benchling, CLC Genomics Workbench, SnapGene, BioNumerics, Primer3, OligoAnalyzer, MEGA, R, Python, or similar platforms is preferred.
Experience developing molecular detection assays for food safety, environmental, clinical, veterinary, or diagnostic applications.
Experience advancing molecular assay concepts through feasibility, development, verification, validation, product transfer, and commercialization.
Experience with sequencing technologies and genomic data, including next-generation sequencing, whole-genome sequencing, targeted sequencing, or related applications.
Familiarity with recognized validation frameworks and standards, including AOAC, ISO 16140, MicroVal, USDA-FSIS, FDA BAM, or similar programs.
Experience working within regulated product development environments involving Quality Systems, Design Controls, Risk Management, Verification, and Validation.
Working knowledge of statistical methods used for assay development and validation, including experimental design, method comparison, probability-of-detection analysis, and interpretation of assay performance data.
A record of scientific publications, patents, conference presentations, external collaborations, or recognized technical leadership in molecular diagnostics, microbial genomics, or pathogen detection.

Responsibilities

Lead the scientific design and hands-on laboratory development of rapid nucleic acid-based methods for detecting and differentiating foodborne pathogens.
Plan and execute laboratory studies, analyze results, troubleshoot assay performance, and use experimental findings to guide subsequent development.
Use bioinformatics and genomic data to guide molecular assay design and support the development of reliable pathogen detection solutions.
Integrate scientific and technical insights into customer needs to support the development of reliable and practical product solutions in collaboration with cross-functional teams.
Strengthen internal capabilities in molecular assay development, microbiological, bioinformatics, and applied statistics capability through technical leadership and mentoring.
Design, optimize, and troubleshoot rapid nucleic acid-based assays for foodborne pathogen detection using relevant amplification technologies. Evaluate assay performance, controls, specificity, sensitivity, robustness, and contamination risks.
Plan and perform laboratory studies with foodborne pathogens and related organisms, including culture preparation, enrichment, inoculation, molecular testing, and interpretation of results. Design studies that account for strain diversity, food matrices, and enrichment conditions, and competitive organisms when evaluating assay performance.
Apply appropriate statistical methods to study design, sampling plans, acceptance criteria, and analysis of assay performance data.
Use bioinformatics tools, genomic data, and sequence-analysis approaches to support target selection, assay design, and interpretation of factors that may influence assay performance.
As part of a cross-functional team, translate product requirements and claims into protocols and evidence packages. Lead internal and support external studies supporting fit-for-purpose performance and, where applicable, AOAC, ISO, MicroVal, USDA-FSIS, FDA, or other relevant pathways.
Collaborate with Product Development, Engineering, Quality, Regulatory, Operations, and Commercial teams to advance concepts through feasibility, development, transfer, launch, and continuous improvement.
Provide technical leadership, communicate scientific evidence and risk clearly, review technical work, mentor colleagues, and contribute to scientific collaborations and external engagement.
Use genomic evidence and practical assay-design principles to select targets and oligonucleotides that support broad inclusivity and strong exclusivity.
Make molecular, genomic, microbiological, and statistical evidence understandable to partners with different technical backgrounds.
Anticipate assay risks early and use data to guide efficient decisions, priorities, and tradeoffs.
Balance scientific rigor with customer workflow, manufacturability, cost, quality, and project timing.
Build capability in others through coaching, technical review, clear standards, and collaborative problem solving.