Staff Scientist Opportunity in Bacteriophage Research and Bioinformatics

The Phage; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) invites applications for a Staff Scientist to join the Science Education Alliance (SEA), a national research community that brings together faculty and students to conduct scientific research.

Through its PHAGES and GENES projects, SEA supports research involving bacteriophages, genetics and genomics, allowing undergraduate students to contribute to real discoveries.

Qualifications

• PhD in biology or a related scientific discipline.
• Demonstrated experience leading an independent research project.
• A first-author scientific publication or preprint demonstrating ownership of a research project.
• Practical laboratory experience with bacteria and bacteriophages.
• Strong knowledge of microbiology, molecular biology and bioinformatics.
• Experience with genomic and sequencing-based research.
• Ability to analyse large datasets and develop or adapt computational pipelines.
• Strong scientific writing, data interpretation and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaborate with researchers from different scientific backgrounds.
• Experience working in research programmes connected to undergraduate education.
• Experience collaborating with researchers across institutions.
• Scientific communication experience beyond peer-reviewed publications.
• An interest in developing new research directions and sharing scientific methods with a wider research community.

Responsibilities

• Lead independent research projects from developing research questions to publishing findings.
• Identify new research opportunities using data generated through the PHAGES and GENES projects.
• Design and conduct experiments involving bacteria, bacteriophages and molecular biology.
• Develop and implement genomic and sequencing-based research workflows.
• Build, adapt and run bioinformatics pipelines for large-scale datasets, including transcriptomics, amplicon sequencing and metagenomics.
• Analyse complex datasets and interpret findings to guide future research.
• Collaborate with SEA leadership, laboratory staff and external research partners.
• Develop methods and tools that support collaborative research across participating institutions.
• Prepare scientific manuscripts, conference presentations and research reports.
• Provide scientific guidance to junior researchers and contribute to the wider research community.

Skills

Lead independent research project

First-author publication

Laboratory experience with bacteria

Laboratory experience with bacterioph

Education

PhD in biology or related

Job description

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) is seeking a Staff Scientist to join its Science Education Alliance (SEA), a national research community that brings together faculty and students to conduct scientific research.

Through its PHAGES and GENES projects, SEA supports research involving bacteriophages, genetics and genomics, allowing undergraduate students to contribute to real scientific discoveries.

The successful candidate will lead independent research projects, explore new scientific questions, analyse genomic data and develop research approaches that can be used by scientists and students across the SEA network.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead independent research projects from developing research questions to publishing findings.
• Identify new research opportunities using data generated through the PHAGES and GENES projects.
• Design and conduct experiments involving bacteria, bacteriophages and molecular biology.
• Develop and implement genomic and sequencing-based research workflows.
• Build, adapt and run bioinformatics pipelines for large-scale datasets, including transcriptomics, amplicon sequencing and metagenomics.
• Analyse complex datasets and interpret findings to guide future research.
• Collaborate with SEA leadership, laboratory staff and external research partners.
• Develop methods and tools that support collaborative research across participating institutions.
• Prepare scientific manuscripts, conference presentations and research reports.
• Provide scientific guidance to junior researchers and contribute to the wider research community.

Required Qualifications

• PhD in biology or a related scientific discipline.
• Demonstrated experience leading an independent research project.
• A first-author scientific publication or preprint demonstrating ownership of a research project.
• Practical laboratory experience with bacteria and bacteriophages.
• Strong knowledge of microbiology, molecular biology and bioinformatics.
• Experience with genomic and sequencing-based research.
• Ability to analyse large datasets and develop or adapt computational pipelines.
• Strong scientific writing, data interpretation and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaborate with researchers from different scientific backgrounds.

At least one year of postdoctoral research experience is preferred and is expected to be common among successful candidates.

• Experience working in research programmes connected to undergraduate education.
• Experience collaborating with researchers across institutions.
• Scientific communication experience beyond peer-reviewed publications.
• An interest in developing new research directions and sharing scientific methods with a wider research community.

Important: HHMI states that applicants must be eligible to work in the United States.

For more phage-related global research positions, check here