Research Assistant I (Larsen Lab)

Clay Today; Chicago, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Loyola University Chicago invites applications for a Research Technician in the Department of Medicine at the Maywood-Health Sciences Campus. The role supports projects on host-microbiome interactions, sequencing workflows, metabolic modeling, and cheminformatics analysis of microbial metabolites.

You will perform 16S rRNA sequencing workflows, analyze microbiome data with standard pipelines, contribute to computational modeling of community metabolism, and help maintain records, inventories,

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree required in biology/biochemistry/chemistry/computational biology or closely related field.
• Hands-on experience with microbiome sequencing methodologies and downstream bioinformatic analysis.
• Scripting in Python or R; Linux/command-line familiarity.
• Background in chemistry/cheminformatics and metabolite annotation is a plus.
• Experience with metabolic flux modeling (e.g., MICOM, COBRApy) or multi-omics data integration is a plus.
• Wet-lab and computational work in an academic lab; strong organizational and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and perform 16S rRNA sequencing workflows.
• Perform bioinformatic analysis of microbiome datasets using standard pipelines.
• Contribute to computational modeling of microbial community metabolism.
• Maintain laboratory records and manage sample inventories.
• Contribute to manuscript and grant preparation.

Skills

Python

R

Linux

Bioinformatics

Education

Bachelor of Science in biology/biochemistry/chemistry/computational biology

Equivalent training via work experience

Tools

MICOM

COBRApy

Chemoinformatics toolkits

Job description

Position Details

Job Title

RESEARCH ASST I

Position Number

8151041

Work Modality

Fully In-Person

Is this request for the creation of a new Position (or the modification of an existing Position) to temporarily support the WorkDay ERP?

Yes

Job Category

University Staff

Job Type

Full-Time

FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

Campus

Maywood-Health Sciences Campus

Department Name

DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE

Location Code

DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE (06500A)

Is this split and/or fully grant funded?

Yes

Duties and Responsibilities

We are seeking a motivated Research Technician to join our laboratory studying host-microbiome interactions and microbial metabolism. The successful candidate will contribute to ongoing projects involving microbiome sequencing, metabolic modeling, and cheminformatic analysis of microbial metabolites.

The Research Technician will perform and assist in the design of 16S rRNA sequencing workflows, conduct bioinformatic analysis of microbiome datasets, and contribute to the computational modeling of microbial community metabolism. The position also involves maintaining laboratory records, managing sample inventories, and contributing to manuscript and grant preparation.

Minimum Education and/or Work Experience

Education Required: Bachelors Degree OR equivalent training acquired via work experience or educationPreferred: Bachelors DegreeExperience Required: NonePreferred: 1-2 years of previous job-related experienceQualifications

A Bachelor of Science degree in biology, biochemistry, chemistry, computational biology, or a closely related field is required. Candidates must have hands-on experience with microbiome sequencing methodologies and proficiency in downstream bioinformatic analysis using standard pipelines and tools. Computational experience including scripting in Python or R and familiarity with Linux/command-line environments is required. A background in chemistry and/or chemoinformatics, including experience with chemical structure databases, metabolite annotation, or cheminformatic toolkits, is also required. Experience with metabolic flux modeling (e.g., MICOM, COBRApy) or multi-omics data integration is a plus, as is familiarity with machine learning applications in biological data analysis. This is a full-time position based in an academic research laboratory. The role involves both wet-lab and computational work. Candidates who thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced research environment and who demonstrate strong organizational and communication skills are encouraged to apply.

Certificates/Credentials/Licenses

N/A

Computer Skills

Basic Computer Skills – MS Office

Supervisory Responsibilities

No

Required operation of university owned vehicles

No

Does this position require direct animal or patient contact?

Yes

Physical Demands

Repetitive Motions

Working Conditions

Ventilation, Odors, Animals

Open Date

07/28/2026

Close Date

Position Maximum Salary or Hourly Rate

$22/hr

Position Minimum Salary or Hourly Rate

$18/hr

About Loyola University Chicago

Founded in 1870, Loyola University Chicago is one of the nation's largest Jesuit, Catholic universities, recognized for its academic excellence, commitment to community engagement, and leadership in sustainability. A Carnegie R1 research institution, Loyola leverages its status as one of an elite group of universities with the highest level of research activity to advance knowledge that serves communities and creates global impact. With 15 schools, colleges, and institutes— including Business, Law, Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences—Loyola operates three primary campuses in the greater Chicago area and one in Rome, Italy, that provide students a transformative, globally connected learning experience. Consistently ranked among the nation's top universities by U.S. News & World Report, Loyola is a STARS Gold-rated institution that is ranked as one of the country's most sustainable campuses by The Princeton Review and has earned distinctions from AmeriCorps and the Carnegie Foundation for its longstanding record of service and community engagement. Guided by its Jesuit mission and commitment to caring for the whole person, Loyola educates ethical leaders who think critically, act with purpose, and strive to create a more just and sustainable world.

Loyola University Chicago strives to be an employer of choice by offering its staff and faculty a wide array of affordable, comprehensive, and competitive benefits.

Loyola adheres to all applicable federal, state, and/or local civil rights laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination in private institutions of higher education. Please see the University's Nondiscrimination Policy.