Qualifications
- Required Education and Experience
- PhD in Biomedical or Veterinary Sciences, Parasitology, Molecular Biology, Entomology or related field.
- None.
Preferred Qualifications
- Expertise with the following lab techniques: classical diagnostic parasitology techniques, microscopy, parasite culture, in vitro assays, DNA and RNA extraction, PCR, RTPCR, qPCR, qRT-PCR, digital PCR, and ELISA.
- Experience with digital PCR, multiplex assay design, or nanopore based detection.
- Experience working with laboratory animals, statistical methods, and bioinformatics.
- Experience working with maintenance of parasite life cycle.
- A record of peer-reviewed publications in the field of parasitology.
- Strong background in classical and molecular parasitology diagnostic techniques.
- Strong background in molecular biology and bioinformatics.
- Experience in animal handling and sample collection.
- Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Excellent communication skills, ability to work independently, demonstrated creativity and high motivation.
- Ability to multi-task and work cooperatively with others.
- Be an engaged and active community member of the lab by participating as a respectful team player of the lab group.
Responsibilities
- Project Development
- Assists project leader with the development and implementation of research projects involving classical and molecular parasitology.
- Design, optimize, and validate nucleic acid-based assays for parasite detection, taking each assay from design through validation.
- Design and test primers and probes, including multiplex panels, and optimize assays for sensitivity and specificity.
- Maintain careful records and contribute to laboratory data management and validation documentation.
- Potential field work and international travel.
- Managing data pipelines, ensuring data integrity, and leading quantitative analyses.
- Producing peer-reviewed manuscripts, quarterly technical reports, and presentations for annual scientific and sponsor-required monthly meetings.
- Laboratory Testing
- Performs routine laboratory tests including DNA and RNA extraction, parasite culture, routine PCR and real time PCR, and ELISA.
- Analyzes, synthesizes and interprets results.
- Optimizes and implements novel diagnostic tests.
- Occasionally assists with diagnostic parasitology service.
- Procedures
- Training personnel (graduate student, undergraduate and DVM students, and part-time workers) providing leadership and quality control for all data collection, data organization, and project execution to publication.
- Other Duties
- Other duties as assigned.
- Additional Information
- Machines or equipment used in the performance of essential duties
- Computer
- Thermocycler
- DNA/RNA extraction robot
- Microscopes
- Centrifuges
- Incubator
- Telephone
- Calculator
- Physical Requirements
- Requires occasional lifting of materials, protracted standing or sitting in one position, occasional kneeling.
- Handling biological samples: parasite specimens, feces, blood, serum.
- Other Requirements and Factors
- This position is security sensitive.
- This position requires compliance with state and federal laws/codes and Texas A&M University System/TAMU policies, regulations, rules and procedures.
- All tasks and job responsibilities must be performed safely without injury to self or others in compliance with System and University safety requirements.
- This position will require export-control authorization prior to starting employment.
- This position may require work beyond normal office hours and/or work on weekends.
- This position may direct and/or evaluate the work of others.
This position is funded from grant and/or contract funding, which is renewed through provisions of the grantor of the contract. Therefore, this position is contingent upon continuation of funding from these grants and/or contracts, as well as satisfactory job performance.
Why Texas A&M University?
We are a prestigious university with strong traditions, Core Values, and a community of caring and collaboration. Amenities associated with a major university, such as sporting and cultural events, state-of-the-art recreation facilities, the Bush Library and Museum, and much more await you. Experience all that a big city has to offer but with a reasonable cost-of-living and no long commutes.
Medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life and AD&D, flexible spending accounts , and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M contributing to employee health and basic life premiums
- 12-15 days of annual paid holidays
- Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month
- Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas
- Health and Wellness: Free exercise programs and release time
- Professional Development: All employees have access to free LinkedIn Learning training, webinars, and limited financial support to attend conferences, workshops, and more
- Educational release time and tuition assistance for completing a degree while a Texas A&M employee
- Living Well, a program at Texas A&M that has been built by employees, for employees
Instructions to Applicants: Applications received by Texas A&M University must either have all job application data entered, or a resume attached. Failure to provide all job application data or a complete resume could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application. We encourage all applicants to upload a resume or use a LinkedIn profile to pre-populate the online application.
All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.
Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.
