Research Assistant/Associate

Research Assistant/Associate

The Potnis Lab in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at Auburn University is seeking a highly motivated individual to provide professional research assistance in the area of computational biology. The successful candidate will join a team of a research assistant, research fellow, graduate students and undergraduate students, that contributes to multiple projects on plant-microbe interactions. The successful candidate will work on a range of high-throughput sequencing data, such as genomics, transcriptomics, amplicon sequencing, and metagenomics for various ongoing projects and work collaboratively with the team members to advance the knowledge of plant-microbe interactions. This is a two-year limited term position with the possibility of annual extensions depending on performance and funding. Applicant must have a basic knowledge of microbial genetics and genomics, must have demonstrated ability to conduct high-throughput sequencing data analyses and must be able to interpret the data analyses. Applicant must be able to work both independently and with others within a research team and have excellent organization, communication, and interpersonal skills.

The University: Classified as a Carnegie R1 university, Auburn University is a public flagship land-grant institution with a student enrollment of more than 30,000. The University provides instruction in approximately 70 academic departments and performs graduate research and public service across a variety of program areas. The University is located in the city of Auburn in east-central Alabama, near the metropolitan areas of Birmingham, AL, and Atlanta, GA, as well as within 4 hours of scenic escapes like the southern Appalachians and the beaches.

The Department: The Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology is administered by the University's historic College of Agriculture. It houses over 23 faculty, 5 support staff, and more than 50 graduate students, all of whom work towards executing the University's research, instruction, and extension missions. Additional information can be found at http://enpp.auburn.edu.

The Laboratory: Potnis lab, also known as Molecular Ecology lab, currently consists of three graduate students, one research fellow, one research assistant, and undergraduate students. We work on understanding the intricate interactions among host, microbes and environment to develop sustainable solutions to manage disease outbreaks. Additional information can be found at https://nehapotnis.wixsite.com/potnislab/home

Research Assistant I: Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in Microbiology, Plant Sciences, Biology, or related natural or social sciences field; no experience required.

Research Assistant II: Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in Microbiology, Plant Sciences, Biology, or related natural or social sciences field and 2 years of experience in research practices and protocols relevant to the position.

Research Assistant III: Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in Microbiology, Plant Sciences, Biology, or related natural or social sciences field and 4 years of experience in research practices and protocols relevant to the position.

Research Assistant IV: Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in Microbiology, Plant Sciences, Biology, or related natural or social sciences field and 6 years of experience in research practices and protocols relevant to the position.

Research Associate I: Master's degree from an accredited institution in Microbiology, Plant Sciences, Biology, or related natural or social sciences field; no experience required.

Research Associate II: Master's degree from an accredited institution in Microbiology, Plant Sciences, Biology, or related natural or social sciences field and 2 years of experience in research practices and protocols relevant to the position.

Research Associate III: Master's degree from an accredited institution in Microbiology, Plant Sciences, Biology, or related natural or social sciences field and 4 years of experience in research practices and protocols relevant to the position.

Research Associate IV: Master's degree from an accredited institution in Microbiology, Plant Sciences, Biology, or related natural or social sciences field and 6 years of experience in research practices and protocols relevant to the position.

Applicant must be able to work both independently and with others within a research team and have excellent organization, communication, and interpersonal skills.

A valid driver's license or the ability to obtain one prior to employment.

It is our policy to provide equal employment and education opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other classification protected by applicable law. The Office of Equal Opportunity Compliance ( EOC) strives to ensure an inclusive and equitable working, living, and learning environment for members of the Auburn University community. Please visit their website to learn more.

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Review of applications will begin on May 1, 2025, but the position will remain open until a suitable candidate is identified. Tentative start date is June 1, 2025, but negotiable.