RESEARCH SCIENTIST/ENGINEER - ASSISTANT

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. 

The UW Neisseria Reference Laboratory located at the Ninth and Jefferson Building on the Harborview Campus, has an outstanding opportunity for a Research Scientist Assistant.

The individual in this position will provide support for the Neisseria Reference Laboratory collaborating with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Washington State Public Health Laboratory, WA DOH, and STD Clinics in US cities, to monitor Neisseria gonorrhoeae antimicrobial susceptibility trends in the United States; and to provide quality-assured data to inform CDC’s treatment recommendations for gonorrhea. The successful candidate will be highly responsible, meticulous, and very organized. Candidates should have acquired basic microbiology skills, and should be interested in spending much of their time preparing antimicrobial-containing culture media for susceptibility testing, and be willing to learn and demonstrate competency in performing Neisseria gonorrhoeae antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Additionally, the candidate should be interested in learning molecular techniques for detection of STI pathogens and resistance determinants. Evidence of outstanding scholarship in microbiology and other science courses as an undergraduate is highly desirable.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Conduct Neisseria gonorrhoeae culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing by agar dilution and Etest following established protocols
• Perform species confirmatory tests for Neisseria gonorrhoeae
• Purification of high molecular weight genomic DNA for Next Generation Sequencing
• PCR and sequencing of PCR products for strain subtyping and characterization of antibiotic resistance determinants
• Molecular detection of STI pathogens using the fully automated Hologic Panther System
• Data processing and analysis using excel and bioinformatics software
• Contribute data for use in publications or conference presentations
• Participate in diagnostic test validation and optimization of new test methods
• Participate in and support quality assessment and continuous laboratory improvement activities
• Participate in lab meetings and network with coworkers and collaborators
• General laboratory maintenance including cleaning of glassware, temperature logs/charts of laboratory equipment, preparing reagents and chemical solutions, freezer organization and inventory of isolates, shipment of specimens
• Perform related duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS:
• Bachelor’s Degree in Microbiology or other scientific field, e.g. Molecular Biology or Biochemistry
• Three months to one year of job-related experience to successfully perform the duties of the job.
• Have a working knowledge of general lab procedures and protocols
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and to proactively communicate with supervisor and collaborators regarding research progress and lab management
• Excellent microbiology laboratory skills
• High degree of organization and meticulousness
• Ability to take on responsibility
• Ability to work well with other laboratory staff

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

DESIRED EXPERIENCE
• Knowledge of clinical microbiology, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, PCR, microscopy, and diagnostic testing
• Experience in antimicrobial susceptibility testing including Kirby Bauer, Etest, and Agar Dilution
• Experience in performing molecular testing and using automated molecular platforms

Application Process:
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process.  These assessments may include Workforce Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others.  Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.