What are the responsibilities and job description for the Research Assistant I/II position at Marine Biological Laboratory?
The Ruff Lab at the MBL Ecosystems Center seeks a research assistant (RAI/II) to provide support for research in microbial ecology and ecophysiology. The RA will maintain and analyze batch and continuous culture bioreactors, maintain laboratory equipment, carry out molecular biological experiments and analyses and assist with laboratory administration. The tasks include field work, sample preparation for gas- and liquid chromatography, stable isotope mass spectrometry and multi-omics analyses, as well as physicochemical measurements, cultivation, cell staining, and microscopy. The position is funded through a US Department of Energy grant to investigate soil microbiomes.
The RA will work in the Ecosystems Center as well as the Josephine Bay Paul Center and will be responsible for general lab maintenance and research support, but has the opportunity to contribute original ideas and research within the overall scope of the project. The position is part of a multidisciplinary collaboration including scientists from MBL, UMass Amherst, North Carolina StateU, and other research institutions with excellent networking opportunities. We seek a creative, diligent and motivated researcher at the RAI/II level. Funding support is available for up to two years, but performance will be reviewed on an semi-annual basis.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- BSc in microbiology, microbial ecology, biochemistry, biogeochemistry, bioinformatics, or equivalent areas of research by start date.
- Strong work ethic, ability to work independently and in a team
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
One or more of the following:
- Experience with -omics techniques: (meta)genomics, RNA-seq, metabolomics, (meta)proteomics
- Experience with sequencing platforms and downstream analyses (e.g. Illumina, Oxford Nanopore)
- Experience with java, python, and/or R. Ability to develop scripts for microbial bioinformatics.
- Experience with cell staining, whole cell hybridization, microscopy
- Experience in culturing, and/or bioengineering
- Experience with chromatography methods, mass spectrometry
- Experience with physiological/biochemical characterization and reconstruction of archaeal and bacterial metabolisms
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Please submit the following documents with your application:
- Cover Letter
- Resume / CV
- List of 3 references - Name and contact information only. Please do not submit unsolicited letters.