Senior Research Associate

Overview

Employer will not sponsor for employment Visa status. The limited-term of this appointment is one year at this time, with the potential to extend the appointment terms or become a permanent position.

The Antibiotic Resistance Action Center (ARAC) at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health is seeking a mission-driven, self-motivated, and collaborative Senior Research Associate to join our Molecular Epidemiology and Microbiome research group to support research in microbial genomics and the human microbiome within a public health and translational research setting.

Led by Drs. Cindy Liu and Lance Price, our group investigates the impact of environmental and occupational exposures on human health, with a specific focus on microbiome-mediated effects on innate immune responses and downstream susceptibility to inflammatory and infectious diseases. In this role, you will contribute directly to high-impact studies of host–microbiome–pathogen interactions. This position offers substantive opportunities to build domain expertise in microbiome science, contribute to peer-reviewed publications, and develop increasing technical independence under the mentorship of senior investigators and scientists.

We are looking for a scientist who enjoys team science and is passionate about using microbial genomics to solve complex public health challenges.

Additional Responsibilities Include:

• Experimental Design and Innovation: Develop and implement new laboratory protocols to collect microbiome/metagenomic, gene expression, bulk and single-cell transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic data; conduct in vitro studies, including utilizing in-house nasal organoid model to study nasal bacteria associated with inflammation and potential live biotherapeutic candidates.
• Sample Analysis Workflow Management: Manage the workflow of large-scale microbiome studies, including sample tracking, nucleic acid isolation (DNA/RNA), preparation of sequencing libraries, and other downstream analyses including qPCR/RT-qPCR, ELISA, and bacterial culturing.
• Data Analysis and
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Conduct reproducible analyses of microbial genomic, microbiome, and epidemiologic data; work closely with bioinformaticists and epidemiologists to characterize how microbiome composition, strain diversity, and gene function is associated with outcomes of interest, such as colonization patterns, immune responses, and clinical outcomes.
• Laboratory Leadership: Manage general lab activities, including inventory, equipment maintenance, and safety; supervise and mentor MPH students and other laboratory trainees.
• Scientific Communication: Collaborate with senior investigators and senior scientists with the preparation of grant applications, high-impact manuscripts, and professional presentations.
• Strategic Support: Support study coordination functions, including Biosafety protocol, CDC permit applications, sample receiving and transfer, and grant reporting under the guidance of senior investigators and senior scientists.

Performs other related duties as assigned. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are logically related to the position.

Minimum Qualifications:

Qualified candidates will hold a Master’s degree in a related discipline and 3 years of direct experience in the field. Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position.

Additional Required Licenses/Certifications/Posting Specific

Minimum Qualifications:

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Biology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Genomics, Chemistry, Public Health, discipline plus 3 years of biomedical, microbiome, molecular epidemiology, or public health research is preferred.
• 3+ years of hands-on laboratory research and/or data analysis experience in an academic, government, or industry setting is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a collaborative, interdisciplinary research environment.
• Extensive experience with sample collection, processing, and quality control for microbiome, metagenomic, and transcriptomic studies, including bulk…