Researcher/Scientist III (UPDATED)

Note: The department has updated the job title for this position.

The Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Arizona is looking for a candidate to work with the Prof. Ingmar Riedel-Kruse Lab as an Assistant Staff Scientist.

Outstanding UA benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; UA/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; state and optional retirement plans; access to UA recreation and cultural activities; and more!

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This individual will work on questions related to multi-cellular bacterial pattern formation, biofilms, bacterial self-assembly, and the evolutionary origin of multi-cellularity. This interdisciplinary lab employs various approaches including molecular biology, synthetic biology, imaging, microfluidics, biophysics, and mathematical modeling.

The primary purpose of this appointment is to conduct research, both independently and collaboratively with other lab members.  The successful candidate will develop and troubleshoot new assays as needed, analyze data, prepare publication quality figures and keep meticulous records. This individual will also participate in the training of new lab members, assist with organizing the lab (maintaining stocks, making solutions, organizing lab inventories), present research results (lab meetings, conferences), and assist with grant and progress report writing.

Primary duties:

• Conducts research experiments with bacteria and other microorganisms.
• Utilize basic molecular biological techniques (e.g., designing gene constructs, cloning, PCR, Western blot, gene transfection, mutagenesis, plasmid amplification, cell culture).
• Work independently and with lab members to advance projects; review project progress and develop plans to complete experiments.
• Maintain detailed records of experimental procedures and analysis of results
• Attend weekly lab meetings, present and discuss data.
• Present work departmentally and at conferences.
• Assist writing manuscripts, fellowship and grant applications.

• Train new lab members, supervise subordinates.

• Assist administrative and maintenance duties involved in general laboratory management such as bookkeeping, ordering supplies, preparation of solutions, maintain laboratory compliance.
• Maintain bacterial and plasmid stocks Assist administrative and maintenance duties involved in general laboratory management such as bookkeeping, ordering supplies, preparation of solutions, maintain laboratory compliance.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to work with and manipulate bacteria (in particular e.coli); modern molecular/cellular biology techniques; cloning; fluorescence microscopy
• Ability to analyze and evaluate data
• Ability to work independently
• Strong organizational, critical thinking and follow-through skills
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills
• Strong ability to problem solve and attention to detail
• Ability to communicate effectively both written and verbally
• Ability to work as a member of a research team with a variety of personnel
• Self-motivated

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional level experience required.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience is required.
• The applicant should be well trained and have extensive experience in microbiology/handing bacteria (especially e.coli); molecular biology (designing gene constructs, DNA cloning, PCR), and fluorescence microscopy. 

• MS or PhD
• At least 4 years experience working in a life-science laboratory (or equivalent)
• Experience with computational data analysis and other computational methods/programming
• Experience with basic instrumentation like microfluidics and single cell analysis
• Experience with cellular biology, biochemistry (protein analysis, western plotting, immunostaining), microfluidics and computational approaches