Scientist - C. difficile and Gut Microbiome

Overview

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Job Category:
Academic Staff

Employment Type:

Terminal (Fixed Term)

Job Profile:
Scientist I

The Hryckowian Lab (Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology) seeks a Scientist I to drive high-impact, hands‑on research on a newly funded NIH R01 focused on how the microbiome‑derived metabolite butyrate shapes Clostridioides difficile fitness and pathogenesis. This role will take intellectual and operational ownership of a major experimental arc that integrates anaerobic bacterial culture, mechanistic molecular and systems‑level approaches, and murine CDI models to define how butyrate alters sporulation, toxin release, and in vivo fitness.

The Scientist I will be expected to execute with urgency and rigor, communicate clearly, and help set and maintain the bar for science in the lab through strong project management, documentation, and mentorship. In addition to advancing the butyrate‑C. difficile program, the position will include additional responsibilities as needed to support lab priorities and momentum. In addition to work with C.

difficile, the lab has diverse projects investigating various aspects of bacterial pathogenesis and commensalism. All of these projects are unified under the common goal of developing non‑antibiotic strategies to combat bacterial pathogens. The position is full‑time and onsite in the Microbial Sciences Building.

This position requires work to be completed onsite, at a designated campus work location.

Terminal, 24 month appointment.

This position has the possibility to be extended or converted to an ongoing appointment based on need and/or funding.

Candidates who demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities will be given first consideration:

• Demonstrated ability to design rigorous experiments, troubleshoot independently, and deliver results on realistic timelines with meticulous record‑keeping and organization.
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral), including comfort presenting data and contributing to manuscripts and/or grant materials.
• Ability to collect, analyze, and document research data according to established policies and procedures, and to support dissemination of results (reports, presentations, publications).
• Collaborative, team‑forward mindset and commitment to being a positive presence in a lab environment (including mentoring junior lab members and leading by example).
• Willingness to take on additional responsibilities as needed to support lab priorities and maintain momentum (e.g., project coordination, training, serving as a liaison with internal/external stakeholders).
• Strong scientific writing and presentation skills.
• Evidence of maturity as a teammate and culture carrier, including mentoring trainees and functioning as a reliable point of contact with collaborators, cores, and internal stakeholders.
• Comfort flexing across priorities, including additional responsibilities as needed, with high standards for rigor, documentation, timelines, and accountability.

• Writes or assists in developing grant applications and proposals to secure research funding.
• Conducts literature reviews, prepares reports and materials, and disseminates information to appropriate entities.
• Serves as a main point of contact and liaison with internal and external stakeholders providing information and representing the interests of a specialized research area.
• Collects and analyzes research data, conducts experiments and interviews, and documents results according to established policies and procedures under general supervision and limited responsibility.
• Assists with the identification of research problems and the development of research methodologies and procedures.
• Attends and assists with the facilitation of scholarly events and presentations in support of continued professional development and the dissemination of research information.

School of Medicine and Public Health, Department of Medicine, Division of…