Clinical Research

MusB Research; Florida; On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

MusB Research in the Tampa Bay area is seeking a Research Assistant / Postdoctoral Fellow to perform routine microbiology and mammalian cell culture tasks, with real-time PCR and microbiome analysis. The role offers mentorship and growth toward independent, senior scientific roles in a fast-paced lab environment.

Candidates should possess a relevant degree (PhD preferred for postdoctoral candidates) and demonstrate hands-on experience in culture techniques, aseptic practices, and bioinformatics

Qualifications

• Bachelor's/Master's/PhD in microbiology, molecular biology, cell biology or related field.
• Hands-on microbiology culture techniques and aseptic practice.
• Experience with mammalian cell culture.
• Strong attention to detail and good record-keeping.
• Preferred: real-time PCR (qPCR/RT-qPCR) and nucleic acid extraction.
• Experience with microbiome studies (16S rRNA sequencing, metagenomics).
• Bioinformatics skills with R and/or Python for sequencing data.
• Prior contributions to manuscripts or grant proposals.
• Willingness to learn and build microbiology/cell culture foundation.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine and specialized microbiology culture work under SOPs.
• Maintain and manipulate mammalian cell cultures; design assays.
• Design/run real-time PCR experiments and data interpretation.
• Contribute to microbiome studies and library preparation.
• Apply bioinformatics to analyze sequencing data; ensure reproducible records.
• Contribute to preparation of research articles and grant proposals.
• Collaborate with founding faculty and lab team on projects.

Skills

Independent work

Team collaboration

Attention to detail

Bioinformatics

Laboratory skills

Education

Bachelor's / Master's / PhD in microbiology or related field

Tools

R

Python

Command-line tools

qPCR / RT-qPCR

Nucleic acid extraction

Job description

Research Assistant / Postdoctoral Fellow

New Port Richey, FL (Tampa Bay area)

Full-time

1+ Year

Apply By 2026-12-31

About Hiring

MusB Research is a research group founded by two faculty members of the medical school of an eminent university in the area. Our work sits at the intersection of microbiology, microbiome, and host cell biology, and we combine wet-lab experimentation with computational analysis to answer translational research questions. Team members work on assigned, well-defined projects under close mentorship with fast-paced environment and have substantial room to grow into more independent and senior scientific roles over time.

Responsibilities

Perform routine and specialized microbiology culture work, including isolation, maintenance, and characterization of bacterial cultures under aseptic conditions in regulated environment and SOPs.

Maintain and manipulate mammalian cell cultures, including passaging, treatments, and assay setup. Design and run real-time PCR experiments (qPCR / RT-qPCR), including primer/probe planning, nucleic acid extraction, and data interpretation. Contribute to microbiome studies, including sample processing, library preparation, and downstream analysis.

Apply and grow bioinformatics skills to analyze microbial sequencing and experimental datasets. Keep accurate, well-organized records and maintain reproducible protocols and documentation.

Contribute to the preparation of research articles and grant applications.

Collaborate closely with the founding faculty and team members on assigned projects and shared lab operations.

What You'll Bring

Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD (or equivalent) in microbiology, molecular biology, cell biology, biomedical sciences, or a closely related field. Postdoctoral candidates should hold a PhD in a relevant discipline.

Demonstrated hands-on experience with microbiology culture techniques and aseptic practice.

Hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture. Strong attention to detail, good record-keeping habits, and the ability to follow and refine protocols.

Ability to work independently on assigned tasks while collaborating effectively within a small team. Preferred Qualifications Experience with real-time PCR (qPCR / RT-qPCR) and nucleic acid extraction.

Experience with microbiome studies (16S rRNA sequencing, metagenomics, or related workflows). Bioinformatics skills, including familiarity with command-line tools, R, and/or Python for analyzing sequencing or experimental data. Prior contributions to scientific manuscripts and/or grant proposals.

Willingness to learn: candidates strong in some areas and developing in others are encouraged to apply, provided they can begin with the microbiology and cell culture foundation.

What You Will Gain

Assigned, clearly scoped research projects with direct mentorship.

High-quality, hands-on training across microbiology, cell culture, microbiome, molecular biology, and bioinformatics.

Meaningful career growth opportunities and a path toward greater scientific independence. Opportunities to co-author research articles and participate in grant writing.

Visa sponsorship may be considered on a case-by-case basis for exceptional candidates.