Microbiology Research Program Sr. Specialist

The University of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Chicago's Microbiology Department seeks a Senior Specialist to lead vaccine-related microbiology research and translational efforts, aligning milestones with program goals and ensuring regulatory quality.

The role demands a PhD and 7+ years in vaccine development or advanced microbiology, with strong data analysis, protocol development, and cross‑functional collaboration. It is a grant-funded, at‑will position with 40 hours weekly.

Qualifications

• PhD in related field is required.
• 7+ years of work experience in microbiology/vaccine development is required.

Responsibilities

• Direct execution of microbiology research programs and align milestones with program goals.
• Manage vaccine development initiatives including antigen selection, formulation studies, and immunogenicity assessments.
• Ensure quality assurance and regulatory compliance across studies, including data integrity and protocol standardization.
• Provide guidance on best practices, protocol development, and assay validation for microbiology and vaccine-related methods.
• Train others in data interpretation and disseminate findings through publications and grants.

Skills

Vaccine development

Microbiology research

Regulatory compliance

Grant writing

Data analysis

Communication skills

Education

PhD in related field

Job description

DepartmentBSD MIC - Khader Lab

About the Department

The Department of Microbiology in the Biological Sciences Division advances our understanding of microorganisms and their roles in health, disease, and the environment. Faculty and trainees investigate fundamental and translational questions spanning bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic biology; microbial pathogenesis; host-microbe interactions; microbiome science; antimicrobial resistance; and microbial genomics. Our work integrates molecular, cellular, and system-level approaches to uncover mechanisms that shape infectious and chronic diseases and to drive innovation in diagnostics, therapeutics, and public health.

Job Summary

The Microbiology Research Program Senior Specialist supports and advances complex microbiology research programs under the direction of the Principal Investigator (PI), with an emphasis on vaccine development and translational research. This role leads the execution of research projects, aligns technical milestones with program goals, and ensures all activities meet rigorous standards of scientific quality and regulatory compliance. The Senior Specialist independently performs and oversees highly technical laboratory work, implements standardized protocols, and ensures the accuracy, reliability, and validity of team-generated data. As a cross-functional subject matter expert, this position provides guidance on best practices, troubleshoots complex experimental challenges, and translates research findings-spanning vaccine candidates, antigen discovery, immune response characterization, and assay development-into actionable insights for product, clinical, or public health applications. This position is well-suited for an experienced microbiology professional who combines deep technical expertise in microbiology and vaccine-related research with strong programmatic, regulatory, and communication skills. This at-will position is wholly or partially funded by contractual grant funding which is renewed under provisions set by the grantor of the contract. Employment will be contingent upon the continued receipt of these grant funds and satisfactory job performance.

Responsibilities

• Assist the PI by directing the execution of microbiology research programs and aligning technical milestones with overall program goals, including projects focused on vaccine discovery, optimization, and evaluation.
• Manage high-impact research initiatives, including those related to vaccine development (e.g., antigen selection, formulation studies, immunogenicity assessments), ensuring projects are delivered on time, within scope, and to high scientific standards.
• Implement and oversee quality assurance of research performed by others to guarantee the accuracy, reliability, and validity of data, particularly for studies informing vaccine candidate selection and preclinical evaluation.
• Implement standardized protocols and manage data to prevent errors across all pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases of a study.
• Provide guidance on best practices and input into protocol development for microbiology and vaccine-related methods, including assay validation and optimization relevant to vaccine research.
• Troubleshoot complex laboratory challenges and interpret test results; investigate and recommend alternative approaches to improve the quality and consistency of results across microbiology and vaccine development workflows.
• Independently perform a wide range of highly technical and complex research and laboratory tests and procedures, including those relevant to evaluating vaccine candidates (e.g., in vitro and ex vivo models, pathogen characterization, immune readouts).
• Ensure all research operations follow applicable regulatory standards (e.g., FDA, ISO, cGMP), where relevant to microbiology and vaccine-development activities.
• Oversee biosafety practices, laboratory equipment maintenance, and laboratory documentation to support compliance and audit readiness for studies involving pathogens and vaccine candidates.
• Enforce Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) protocols and ensure adherence to institutional and regulatory guidelines, including those applicable to vaccine-related research.
• Serve as a cross-functional subject matter expert for other research personnel and institutional partners.
• Analyze experimental data and translate research findings into actionable products, clinical, or public health applications, including informing vaccine candidate advancement, assay transfer, or clinical trial readiness.
• Interface with R&D, clinical affairs, regulatory, and commercial teams to ensure alignment between laboratory research, vaccine development strategies, and downstream applications (e.g., preclinical packages, regulatory submissions, translational studies).
• Assist the PI by drafting, editing, and proofreading funding proposal documents; prepare written materials, figures, charts, and graphs on specialized techniques and research results for peer-reviewed scientific publication or presentation, including vaccine-related findings (e.g., immunogenicity, efficacy, mechanistic studies).
• Present research findings at national and international academic conferences and symposia, including meetings focused on vaccines, infectious diseases, and translational microbiology.
• Uses specialized depth and breadth of expertise to lead and conduct research experiments.
• Interprets and collects data and trains others in the interpretation of data.
• Leads the dissemination of data and significantly contributes to scientific publications and grant writing.
• Leads others to solve complex problems, providing expertise to the team which includes of scientists and clinicians from the University and nationally.
• Provides expertise to identify protocol problems, inform investigators of problems, or assist in problem resolution efforts, such as protocol revisions.
• Provides expertise to evaluate factors such as sample collection processes, data management plans, or potential subject risks.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Minimum requirements include a PhD in related field.
• Work Experience: Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.
• Certifications: ---

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience: 7+ years in vaccine development and conducting advanced microbiology research in an academic, clinical, or industry setting.
• Demonstrated proficiency in designing, executing, and troubleshooting complex microbiology experiments and assays.
• Experience implementing and maintaining standardized laboratory protocols, quality control procedures, and data management practices.
• Familiarity with relevant regulatory frameworks and biosafety requirements; experience working under IBC oversight.
• Proven ability to analyze, interpret, and present complex scientific data.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including experience contributing to grants, manuscripts, and scientific presentations.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in cross-functional teams and to provide technical guidance to other research staff.

Working Conditions

Lab environment.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)
• Cover Letter (preferred)

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions. When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Research

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

Yes

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Range

$100,000.00 - $140,000.00 The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination. Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form. All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position. The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.