Associate Research Scientist

Northeastern University; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 67,855 - 95,845; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Vision benefits

Dental benefits

Paid time off

Tuition assistance

Retirement benefits

Job summary

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc. seeks an Associate Research Scientist in Boston, Massachusetts. This role involves leading efforts in natural-product-based antibiotic discovery. You will manage projects that integrate microbiology, biochemistry, and analytical chemistry. Ideal candidates have a Ph.D. in a related field and expertise in natural product discovery and analytical instrumentation. A comprehensive benefits package is offered along with a competitive salary range of $67,855.00 - $95,845.00.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Microbiology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, or a related field is required.
• Expertise in natural product discovery and purification is highly preferred.
• Experience with analytical instrumentation and biological assay development is essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead and characterize novel natural products with antibacterial properties.
• Oversee bioassay development and compound validation efforts.
• Manage isolation, purification, and structure elucidation workflows.

Skills

Natural product discovery

Leadership skills

Analytical instrumentation expertise (LC-MS, HPLC, NMR)

Biological assay development

Communication skills

Team management

Education

Ph.D. in Microbiology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, or related field

Job description

Associate Research Scientist

About the Opportunity

The Antibiotic Discovery Center (ADC) is seeking an experienced Associate Research Scientist to lead and expand efforts in natural-product-based antibiotic discovery. The ideal candidate will manage multidisciplinary projects that integrate microbiology, biochemistry, and analytical chemistry to discover and characterize new natural product scaffolds and elucidate their biological activities.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Microbiology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, or related field.
• Expertise in natural product discovery, purification, or bioassay‑guided screening highly preferred.
• Experience with analytical instrumentation (LC-MS, HPLC, NMR) and biological assay development highly preferred.
• Strong leadership, communication, and team management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to integrate multidisciplinary data to drive scientific discovery and innovation.

Responsibilities

• Lead discovery and characterization of novel natural products with antibacterial or other bioactive properties.
• Direct and oversee bioassay development, screening, and hit validation efforts.
• Manage compound isolation, purification, and structure elucidation workflows in collaboration with analytical and chemistry teams.
• Conduct and supervise mechanistic studies to elucidate compound mode of action.
• Provide scientific leadership and mentorship for junior researchers and technical staff.
• Ensure rigorous data management, reproducibility, and compliance with safety standards.
• Contribute to strategic planning, proposal writing, and publication of research findings.

The Antibiotic Discovery Center (ADC) at Northeastern University is an interdisciplinary research hub dedicated to discovering, characterizing, and developing novel antibiotics and bioactive natural products. The ADC integrates expertise in microbiology, biochemistry, chemical biology, and natural product chemistry to address the urgent global challenge of antimicrobial resistance. Researchers at the ADC work collaboratively to identify new compounds from diverse microbial sources, elucidate their mechanisms of action, and advance them toward preclinical development through innovative screening, analytical, and genomic approaches.

Position Type

Research

Additional Information

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Northeastern University has a comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees, including medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness and life, retirement, and commuting & transportation.

Compensation Grade/Pay Type: 109S

Expected Hiring Range: $67,855.00 - $95,845.00