Responsibilities:

• Perform qualification and quantification of oligonucleotides.
• Standardize and maintain lab stocks of microbiological cultures and purified nucleic acid test and control materials.
• Prepare and purify organismal nucleic acid from different sample types, including bio-hazardous clinical samples.
• Produce accurate, thorough and timely documentation in notebooks, author reports of analytical studies and experiments, and participate in regularly-scheduled project technical meetings.
• Receive, catalog, and freeze isolates from a variety of sources for research studies.
• Optimize reagent formulations.
• Perform PCR tests for organisms as required.
• Enter data from experiments into a database.
• Perform preliminary alignments of DNA sequence data and enter results into database.
• Maintain notebooks, reports and records.
• Maintain appropriate inventory of supplies.
• Maintain and promote a safe working environment.

Required Knowledge – Skills – and Abilities:

• BS in Molecular Biology or a related scientific discipline is required.
• Minimum of 5 years hands-on laboratory experience in biotech/medical device industry, academic lab or public health lab.
• Demonstrated ability to perform nucleic acid amplification is essential.
• Nucleic acid isolation, purification and characterization experience.
• The ability to handle biological samples (i.e. blood, tissue, etc) as test materials.
• The ability to work with pathogens (BSL 2) is required.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and proven interpersonal and team skills.
• Good computer skills with standard Microsoft Office programs.
• Detail-oriented; disciplined approach to tasks and lab responsibilities.

Preferred Qualifications:
Experience working with infectious organisms a plus.
Experience with real-time fluorescence probes.
Master’s Molecular Biology or related discipline is a plus.