Research Assistant
The Shrestha lab in the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering (EHE) at Johns Hopkins University is seeking a Research Assistant to join our team. The research assistant will get an opportunity to work on both experimental and computational research at the interface of environmental microbiology, metabolic engineering, and bioprocess engineering. They will contribute to several ongoing projects, including the production of biochemicals and bioplastics from dairy and agricultural waste, studying the bacterial response to stress conditions, and metabolic engineering of non-model organisms to improve biosynthesis of target metabolites. More information about Dr. Shrestha’s lab can be found on the lab website and the department faculty page.
Specific Duties & Responsibilities
- Assist in the design and execution of on-going microbiology and bioreactor experiments.
- Perform standard microbiological techniques, including but not limited to media preparation, isolation, culturing, nucleic acid extractions, gel electrophoresis, and PCR.
- Perform routine laboratory maintenance and organization, including ordering lab supplies and ensuring compliance with safety protocols
- Maintain and troubleshoot laboratory equipment as needed.
- Collect, organize, and analyze experimental data, and present results in both written and oral formats.
- Contribute to the preparation of research reports, presentations, grant proposals, and publications.
- Train and supervise undergraduate students in laboratory techniques and protocols
- Collaborate with other research team members and integrate daily activities with the ongoing projects.
Special Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Proficiency with R, Matlab, Python, or other programming languages is a plus.
- Strong scientific writing and communication skills.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Molecular Biology, Microbiology, or a related field.
- Some related experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- Candidates with a background or previous research experience in molecular biology, anaerobic microbiology, microbial community analysis, synthetic biology, and/or bioinformatics are encouraged to apply.
- Experience with analytical methods such as GC-FID, GC-MS, and HPLC.
Classified Title: Research Assistant
Role/Level/Range: ACRO40/E/03/CD
Starting Salary Range: $17.20 - $30.30 HRLY (Commensurate w/exp.)
Employee group: Full Time
Schedule: 37.5 hrs/wk, M-F
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Location: Homewood Campus
Department name: Dept of Environmental Health and Eng
Personnel area: Whiting School of Engineering