Research Scientist - Microbiology/Immunology

Overview:

Dr. Jennifer Edwards Lab

The Center for Microbial Pathogenesis within the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital (Columbus, Ohio) is seeking a doctoral level research scientist to study host-pathogen interactions as they relate to Neisseria gonorrhoeae and of the lower female genital tract.

To be considered, the candidate must have a Ph.D. in an area of microbiology or virology with hands-on experience in one or more of the following fields: bacterial and/or viral pathogenesis, cell biology, innate immunology, and/or molecular biology. Applicants with experience in microbiology, bacteriology, or virology are preferred. We are seeking a talented, independent self-starter who thrives working alone as well as in an interactive, collaborative scientific environment. The successful applicant will be an organized, motivated, and innovative professional.

They will possess strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills and the ability to independently design, execute, troubleshoot, and interpret experiments. Applicants with an interest in the cellular/molecular mechanisms underlying the interaction of pathogenic bacteria and viruses with human mucosal surfaces, the host response(s) to infection, and/or the innate immunology of the human mucosal epithelium are encouraged to apply. The successful applicant will Neisseria gonorrhoeae of the lower female genital tract as part of a funded grant from the NIH/NIAID.

Responsibilities:

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

PhD in relevant area of life sciences

Excellent communication skills with fluency in written and spoken English

Demonstrated peer-reviewed publication record

Experience in preparation of abstracts and scientific presentations

Strong mathematical and analytical skills; familiarity with statistical analyses

Strong problem-solving/troubleshooting skills that can translate to direct guidance of team members

Good time management, prioritization, and planning skills with

Demonstrated ability to execute multiple projects simultaneously and in providing high quality, timely data

Experience in molecular biological techniques (e.g. molecular cloning, bacterial mutant generation, isolation of DNA, RNA, and proteins from microbial and eukaryotic cells etc.)

Experience in propagating and enumerating virus

Experience in microbiological and immunological assessments (e. g., ELISA, Western Blot, etc.)

Working knowledge of mammalian cell signaling and innate (mucosal) immunity

Must be able to occasionally work after hours and/or weekends, as needed, for experiments

Ability, and desire, to be productive independently, as well as part of a research team, in a fast-paced, collaborative setting

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Previous experience working in bacteriology

Experience with primary human cell culture

Strong background in cellular microbiology

Experienced in interpreting and analyzing large scale experimental data (e.g. proteomic data sets)

Permanent