Postdoctoral Position in Dr. Michael J. Betenbaugh's Lab

Johns Hopkins University; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee benefits

Job summary

Johns Hopkins University invites applications for a research position in the Betenbaugh Lab to tackle unsolved challenges in filamentous fungal biotechnology and biomanufacturing. You will join Dr.

Betenbaugh’s team to develop essential experimental skills and contribute to high-impact academic and industry collaborations. The role involves literature reviews, designing and performing growth and production experiments, and applying molecular biology and data-driven approaches to optimize strains

Qualifications

• PhD in Chemical Engineering, Biological Sciences, Bioengineering, or related field.
• Background in molecular biology, virology, and protein expression is helpful.
• Capacity to manipulate baculovirus and rAAV.
• Advanced microscopy, mathematical modeling, and machine learning techniques.
• Proficiency in data analysis, statistical modeling, and experimental design.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team environment.

Responsibilities

• Conduct literature reviews on filamentous fungal biology, strain engineering, fermentation, and biomanufacturing technologies.
• Design and perform experiments to improve fungal growth, productivity, product quality, and process robustness.
• Culture filamentous fungi in shake flasks and bioreactors; evaluate media and process conditions.
• Apply molecular biology and genetic engineering techniques to modify and characterize production strains.
• Use analytical methods to quantify growth, substrate consumption, metabolites, and product yield/quality.
• Analyze and interpret data to identify bottlenecks and guide experiments.
• Prepare and present research findings in journal articles, conferences, and reports.
• Maintain detailed documentation of workflows, results, and methodologies.
• Communicate progress to academic and industrial collaborators.
• Assist in mentoring graduate students and junior researchers.

Skills

Molecular biology

Virology

Protein expression

Baculovirus

rAAV

Microscopy

Mathematical modeling

Machine learning

Data analysis

Statistical modeling

Experimental design

Teamwork

Education

PhD in Chemical Engineering or related field

Job description

Johns Hopkins, founded in 1876, is America's first researchuniversity and home to nine world-class academic divisions workingtogether as one university.

Salary

60,000-70,000

Johns Hopkins University: Whiting School of Engineering: Departmentof Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Description

Are you excited to tackle unsolved challenges in filamentous fungalbiotechnology and biomanufacturing? Join Michael Betenbaugh’sresearch lab to develop and strengthen some of the most in-demand experimental research skills in academia and industrytoday.

• Johns Hopkins offers an outstanding environment for lifesciences research, with a dynamic community spanning biomolecularengineering, biophysics, biochemistry, microbiology, andmedicine.
• Standard Johns Hopkins employee benefits.
• Baltimore is one of the most affordable and livable cities on the US East Coast.
• The Betenbaugh Laboratory offers extensive opportunities to collaborate with industrial partners across the biopharmaceuticaland biotechnology sectors.
• Become part of the AMBIC biomanufacturing center, directed byProf. Betenbaugh, and participate in AMBIC conferences, workshops, and seminars.
• Laboratory alumni have advanced to positions at majorcompanies, including Genentech, Merck, Pfizer, and GSK, as well asemerging startups such as Drūl and Biolinco.
• The initial appointment period is one year, with theexpectation of two or more years in total.
• Supportive mentoring environment with regular one-to-onemeetings with Dr. Betenbaugh.

More information about the Betenbaugh Lab is available at https://www.betenbaughlab-jhu.com/ .

Key responsibilities may include:

• Conduct literature reviews on filamentous fungal biology,strain engineering, fermentation, and biomanufacturingtechnologies.
• Design and perform experiments to improve fungal growth,productivity, product quality, and process robustness.
• Culture filamentous fungi in shake flasks and bioreactors and evaluate the effects of media composition and processconditions.
• Apply molecular biology and genetic engineering techniques to modify and characterize fungal production strains.
• Use analytical methods to quantify growth, substrateconsumption, metabolite production, and product yield andquality.
• Analyze and interpret experimental data to identify biologicaland process bottlenecks and guide subsequent experiments.
• Prepare and present research findings through journal articles,conference presentations, and internal reports.
• Maintain detailed documentation of experimental workflows,results, and methodologies.
• Communicate research progress and findings to academic andindustrial collaborators.
• Assist in mentoring graduate students and junior researcherswithin the team

Qualifications

• PhD in Chemical Engineering, Biological Sciences,Bioengineering, or a related field
• Background in molecular biology, virology, and proteinexpression helpful
• Capacity to manipulate baculovirus and rAAV t
• Advanced microscopy, mathematical modeling, and machine learning techniques.
• Proficiency in data analysis, statistical modeling, and experimental design.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary teamenvironment.

Salary Range

The referenced salary range represents the minimum and maximumsalaries for this position and is based on Johns HopkinsUniversity's good faith belief at the time of posting. Not allcandidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range.The actual compensation offered to the selected candidate may varyand will ultimately depend on multiple factors, which may includethe successful candidate's geographic location, skills, workexperience, internal equity, market conditions, education/trainingand other factors, as reasonably determined by theUniversity.

Total Rewards

Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package that supports ouremployees' health, life, career and retirement. More information can be found here: https://hr.jhu.edu/benefits-worklife/.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Johns Hopkins University is committed to equal opportunity forits faculty, staff, and students. To that end, the university doesnot discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, marital status,pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age,disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity orexpression, veteran status or other legally protectedcharacteristics. The University is committed to providing qualifiedindividuals access to all academic and employment programs,benefits and activities on the basis of demonstrated ability,performance and merit without regard to personal factors ordemographic characteristics that are irrelevant to the programinvolved.

Pre-Employment Information

If you are interested in applying for employment with Johns HopkinsUniversity and require special assistance or accommodation duringany part of the pre-employment process, please contact the HRBusiness Services Office at [e-mail] . ForTTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711. For moreinformation about workplace accommodations at Johns HopkinsUniversity for disabilities, medical conditions (including medicalconditions related to pregnancy or childbirth), accessibility, orreligious reasons, please visit accessibility.jhu.edu .

Background Checks

After receiving a conditional offer, the successful candidate(s)for this position will be subject to a pre-employment backgroundcheck including education verification. When deciding whether acandidate’s conviction history is job-disqualifying, the Universityconsiders the nature and gravity of the offense, the time that haspassed since the conviction, and the nature of the job beingsought.

EEO is the Law

https://www.eeoc.gov/employees-job-applicants

Vaccine Requirements

Johns Hopkins University strongly encourages, but no longerrequires, at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. This changedoes not apply to the School of Medicine (SOM). SOM hires must befully vaccinated with an FDA COVID-19 vaccination and provide proofof vaccination status.

We still require all faculty, staff, andstudents to receive the seasonalflu vaccine.

Exceptions to the seasonal flu vaccine or COVID-19 vaccine (forSOM) requirement(s) may be provided to individuals with sincerelyheld religious beliefs or medical conditions that preclude themfrom receiving the vaccine. Requests for an exception must besubmitted to the JHU vaccination registry. For additionalinformation, applicants for SOM positions should visit https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus/covid-vaccine/and all other JHU applicants should visit https://covidinfo.jhu.edu/health-safety/covid-vaccination-information/.

The following additional vaccine requirements may apply,depending upon your campus. Please contact the hiring departmentfor more information.

The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas,laboratories, working with research subjects, or involvingcommunity contact requires documentation of immune status againstRubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella(chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received theTdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may includedocumentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicellavaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratorytesting. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases areordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except forthose candidates who provide results of blood tests or immunizationdocumentation from their own health care providers. Anyvaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no costin our Occupational Health office.