Visiting Research Specialist - Carl R. Woese Institute Genomic Biology

Overview

Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology
The Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology (IGB) is an interdisciplinary research institute at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, built on a team-science approach. Its mission is to advance life sciences research, engage the public in understanding the impact of genomic discoveries, and foster bioeconomic development across Illinois. IGB researchers lead groundbreaking genomic studies that tackle critical societal challenges in food security, energy, health, technology, and environmental sustainability.

The institute’s administrative infrastructure is designed to support dynamic research themes, enabling them to evolve with emerging discoveries, innovative methods, and changing needs. Sponsorship for work authorization is not available for this position.

This is an entry-level position with significant time working at the laboratory bench. The Visiting Research Specialist will assist postdocs and PIs with a project aimed at discovering bacterial viruses (phages) and quantifying their interactions with their hosts, with a focus on oral pathogens. This will be accomplished using molecular, genetic, and microbiology approaches.

• Scientific Research and phage/strain curation
• Assisting Postdocs with isolating and characterizing oral pathogens, including Streptococcus, Porphyromonas, and/or Fusobacteria species.
• Assisting Postdocs with discovering, propagating, and sequencing phages that infect targeted bacterial species.
• Stocking and curating strains and phage collection.
• Assisting Postdocs with developing and performing high-throughput assays to characterize phage-host interactions.
• Collecting data, performing statistical analysis, summarizing data in tables and graphs.
• Interpreting and Conceptualizing Results, Disseminating and Incorporating Results
• Writing weekly priorities for the project and monthly reports on the progress.
• Presenting reports on the project at group meetings
• Writing methods and results of the research for scientific papers.
• Training Others
• Training other members of the team in the protocols and practices developed in this project.
• Supervising undergraduate students:
  Train, set goals, assign/review work, evaluate performance, address work issues.
• General Lab Maintenance
• Assisting in the setup, operation and maintenance of lab equipment.
• Contributing to general lab housekeeping tasks
• May be responsible for ordering supplies.

Bachelor’s degree in microbiology, biology, biochemistry, biotechnology or a closely related STEM field. At least one year of research experience in the area of microbiology.

Master's degree or additional technical training in microbiology, biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, or a closely related STEM field.

• Experience working with Streptococcus, Porphyromonas, and/or Fusobacterium species.
• Experience working with phages
• Experience working with anaerobic bacteria

• Exceptional communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills
• Strong computing skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Power Point
• Ability to assume responsibility and to work independently with minimal guidance
• Ability to work collaboratively with people from many different backgrounds
• Ability to train undergraduate students in experimental techniques

This is a 100% full-time non-tenured Visiting Academic Professional position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after 3/16/2026. The salary range for this position is strictly budgeted at $50,000 to $60,000
. The starting salary will be determined based on the selected candidate’s qualifications, experience, and internal equity considerations, and will not exceed the top of the designated range. Sponsorship for work authorization is not available for this position.

Visiting academic professionals are covered by a collective bargaining agreement between the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois and the Visiting Academic Professionals/AAP-IEA-NEA union. For more information regarding the contract, please go to Visiting…