Postdoctoral Research Associate-1

Northeastern University; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The Woolston Lab at Northeastern University seeks a Postdoctoral Research Associate to lead an innovative program at the intersection of anaerobic microbiology, enzyme biochemistry, and natural products discovery.

The successful candidate will work with Prof. Woolston and a multidisciplinary team, conduct independent research, mentor students, and communicate findings through publications, talks, and NIH grant reports.

Qualifications

• PhD in microbiology, biochemistry, chemical engineering, or a related field.
• Demonstrated publication record in peer‑reviewed journals.
• Experience with natural products biosynthesis or oxygen‑sensitive enzymes (iron‑sulfur and radical enzymes).
• Experience with bacterial genetics workflows (CRISPR, cloning, genome editing, transposon mutagenesis).
• Experience with anaerobic microbiology techniques.
• Bioinformatics skills for genomics‑driven natural products discovery.
• Strong quantitative and statistical analysis skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication; mentoring ability.
• Ability to work independently and in a collaborative team.

Responsibilities

• Conduct independent research, develop assays, design experiments, generate data, and analyze results.
• Discuss research plans with Prof. Woolston; complete research activities independently.
• Communicate progress in regular meetings with Prof. Woolston.
• Read and review scientific literature relevant to the project scope.
• Communicate results through lab meetings, conferences, publications, and funding reports.
• Prepare manuscripts, patent applications, and other scholarly materials.
• Engage in professional development and fellowship applications.
• Career development activities and opportunities.

Skills

Publication record

Anaerobic microbiology

Natural products biosynthesis

CRISPR-based tools

Transposon mutagenesis

Genome mining

Data analysis

Scientific communication

Mentoring

Education

PhD in microbiology/biochemistry/chemical engineering or related field

Tools

CRISPR tools

Job description

About the Opportunity

The Woolston Lab at Northeastern University conducts research at the intersection of anaerobic microbiology, enzyme biochemistry, and natural products discovery. This position is funded by a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant focused on unlocking the biosynthetic potential of Clostridial bacteria, a poorly understood but exceptionally rich source of novel bioactive compounds and unusual biosynthetic enzymes. The research program pursues two complementary directions. The first involves the biochemical and in vivo characterization of a newly discovered family of cobalamin-dependent radical S-adenosylmethionine (B12-rSAM) enzymes fused to non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) adenylation domains. These enzymes are hypothesized to catalyze a stereoselective carbon backbone methylation reaction with no precedent in NRPS biochemistry. The second direction focuses on the discovery of novel antimicrobials from cellulolytic Clostridia through heterologous expression of biosynthetic gene clusters in a newly developed Clostridial chassis strain and activation of cryptic pathways in native producers via elicitor screening.

Job Summary

The Woolston Lab at Northeastern University seeks a Postdoctoral Research Associate to lead an exciting research program at the intersection of anaerobic microbiology, enzyme biochemistry, and natural products discovery. The Postdoctoral Research Associate will work closely with Prof. Woolston and a collaborative, interdisciplinary team of graduate students and undergraduate researchers. The Woolston Lab places a strong emphasis on open scientific exchange, mentorship, and a team-oriented culture in which postdoctoral researchers play a central role in shaping both the science and the intellectual environment of the group. The associate will be expected to conduct independent research, contribute to the mentorship of junior lab members, and communicate findings through publications, presentations, and reports to the funding agency.

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD in microbiology, biochemistry, chemical engineering, or a related field.
• Demonstrated publication record of scientific findings in peer-reviewed journals.
• Experience investigating and characterizing natural products biosynthesis or experience purifying and functionally characterizing oxygen-sensitive enzymes (for example, iron-sulfur proteins and radical enzymes). Candidates with demonstrated expertise in both areas are especially competitive.
• Experience with modern bacterial genetics workflows, including cloning, genome editing, Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-based tools, and transposon mutagenesis.
• Experience with anaerobic microbiology techniques, including cultivation, handling, and experimental work under strictly anaerobic conditions.
• Bioinformatics skills relevant to genomics-driven natural products discovery, including genome mining, biosynthetic gene cluster analysis, sequence alignment, and annotation.
• Strong quantitative and statistical analysis skills for experimental data interpretation.
• Rigorous scientific documentation practices, including maintenance of detailed laboratory notebooks and research records.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to present research findings clearly to both specialist and general audiences.
• Demonstrated ability or strong potential to mentor undergraduate and graduate researchers.
• Ability to work independently and drive a research project forward while collaborating effectively within a team environment.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

• Conduct independent research, including developing assays, designing experiments, generating data, and analyzing results. Research plans and experiments should be discussed and developed in consultation with Prof. Woolston; however, the employee must be able to complete research activities independently.
• Communicate research progress in regular meetings with Prof. Woolston.
• Read and review scientific literature relevant to the project scope.
• Communicate results through laboratory group meetings, scientific conferences, peer-reviewed publications, and funding agency reports.
• Prepare presentations, manuscripts, patent applications, and other scholarly or research-related materials.
• Participate in professional development activities, including workshops, seminars, courses, and fellowship applications.
• Engage in career development activities and preparation for future career opportunities, as appropriate.

Required Documents

Resume

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer. Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more 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.

Compensation

Grade/Pay Type: 108S Expected Hiring Range: $60,315.00 - $85,192.50. With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.

About Northeastern University

Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university and the recognized leader in experiential lifelong learning. Our approach of integrating real-world experience with education, research, and innovation empowers our students, faculty, alumni, and partners to create worldwide impact. Our global university system provides our community and academic, government, and industry partners with unique opportunities to think locally and act globally. The system—including 14 campuses across the U.S., U.K., and Canada, 300,000-plus alumni, and 3,000 partners worldwide—serves as a platform for scaling ideas, talent, and solutions. The university’s residential campuses for undergraduate and graduate degrees are located in Boston, London, and Oakland, California. Our research and graduate campuses are in the Massachusetts communities of Burlington and Nahant; Arlington, Virginia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Miami; Portland, Maine; Seattle; Silicon Valley, California; Toronto; and Vancouver. Northeastern’s personalized, experiential undergraduate and graduate programs lead to degrees through the doctorate in 10 colleges and schools across our campuses. Learning emphasizes the intersection of data, technology, and human literacies, uniquely preparing graduates for careers of the future and lives of fulfillment and accomplishment. Our research enterprise, with an R1 Carnegie classification, is solutions oriented and spans the world. Our faculty scholars and students work in teams that cross not just disciplines, but also sectors—aligned around solving today’s highly interconnected global challenges and focused on transformative impact for humankind.