Life Science Research Professional 2

This is a one-year fixed-term position, with the possibility of renewal. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.  All candidates must be eligible to work and live in the U.S.

The School of Engineering
Stanford Engineering has been at the forefront of innovation for nearly a century, creating pivotal technologies that have transformed the worlds of information technology, communications, health care, energy, business and beyond. Our faculty and students are creative risk-takers who pursue excellence across a breadth of disciplines. Our alumni include some of the world's most successful leaders in technology and business. Our staff are critical to enabling Stanford Engineering to accomplish its mission: seeking solutions to some of the world's most urgent challenges and educating leaders who will make the world a better place through the power of engineering principles, techniques and systems.

Department of Bioengineering
Stanford Bioengineering is a dynamic and rapidly growing department within the School of Engineering and School of Medicine. For more than a decade, Stanford Bioengineering has sought to advance bioengineering as a fundamental engineering discipline grounded in basic sciences, powered by a unique set of engineering concepts and principles that is capable of realizing many diverse applications. Our community ranges broadly, consisting of esteemed alumni, world-class faculty, and dynamic staff and students. It includes some of the world's most successful leaders in science, technology and business. As staff, you are critical to supporting our organization’s goals and enabling us to accomplish our mission of conducting cutting-edge research and formulating innovative solutions to global challenges through the field of bioengineering.

The Department of Bioengineering is seeking a full-time Life Science Research Professional 2 to join the KC Huang lab, whose focus is understanding the human microbiome at the molecular and physical level to develop better therapies for human disease. The gut microbiota, a dense and diverse community of microbes that occupy the gastrointestinal tract, perform many important functions for host physiology. In infants, these functions include immune development, nutrition, and protection against infectious disease. Disruption of the normal microbiota in early life has been linked to growth faltering, inflammation, and increased susceptibility to enteric pathogens. Live biotherapeutic products based on Bifidobacterium species have shown considerable promise for restoring and reinforcing healthy microbiome development in vulnerable infants. The Huang and Sonnenburg Labs are working to improve on existing infant-targeted biotherapeutics using an experimentally characterized consortium of Bifidobacterium species. You will work closely with senior researchers and the PI in support of laboratory research, including work in culturomics, DNA sequencing, and bacterial growth measurements, while also supporting basic laboratory operations. Experience with anaerobic bacterial cultivation, sterile technique, and molecular biology methods — including DNA extraction and sequencing library preparation — is strongly desired.

The expected pay range for this position is $86,355 - $100,077 per annum for positions in Stanford Work Locations.

 Working Conditions:
●    May require working in close proximity to blood-borne pathogens.
●    Requires work in an environment where animals are used for teaching and research.
●    Position may at times require the employee to work with or be in areas where hazardous materials and/or infectious diseases are present.
●    Employee must perform tasks that require the use of personal protective equipment, such as safety glasses and shoes, protective clothing and gloves, and possibly a respirator.
●    May require extended or unusual work hours based on research requirements and business needs.

Physical Requirements:
●    Frequently stand, walk, twist, bend, stoop, squat, grasp lightly, use fine manipulation, grasp forcefully, perform desk-based computer tasks, use telephone, write by hand, lift, carry, push and pull objects weighing over 50 pounds.
●    Occasionally sit, kneel, crawl, reach and work above shoulders, sort and file paperwork or parts.
●    Rarely climb, scrub, sweep, mop, chop and mix or operate hand and foot controls.
●    Must have correctable vision to perform duties of the job.
●    Ability to bend, squat, kneel, stand, reach above shoulder level, and move on hard surfaces for up to eight hours.
●    Ability to lift heavy objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
●    Ability to work in a dusty, dirty, and odorous environment.
●    Position may require repetitive motion.
* - Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job.

Work Standards:
●    Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.
●    Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned.
●    Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University's Administrative Guide, http://adminguide.stanford.edu
 

Core Duties:

• Independently conduct a portion of the research project(s). Makerecommendations on experimental design and/or research direction toprincipal investigator.

• Independently conduct complex (lab and/or field) experiments togather data for a portion of a major research project.

• Interpret and analyze results, often where few guidelines exist,and make modifications to existing procedures and protocols.

• Develop new research protocols where appropriate protocols arenot described in the literature or where modification or adaptation ofstandard procedures and protocols is required.

• Participate in multidisciplinary teams across different facultiesor schools.

• Perform ongoing literature review to remain current with newprocedures and related research; apply to ongoing research anddevelopment of new protocols.

• Contribute substantively to the preparation of papers forpublication, especially in the results section, and to publication offindings. Present ongoing work to colleagues and/or academicconferences.

• Oversee supply and equipment budget under supervision ofprincipal investigator or business manager.

• Work with health and safety department to ensure lab complieswith regulations and all required trainings.

• Supervise (either formally or informally) staff or students asneeded, including oversight and direction on techniques, as well asconsultation on project work. Serve as a technical resource for otherresearch staff.

• Oversee the daily activities of the laboratory including labmaintenance; maintain lab stock, manage chemical inventory and safetyrecords, and provide general lab support as needed. May assist withpurchasing laboratory equipment.

Minimum Education andExperience

Bachelor's degree in related scientific field and two years ofrelevant work experience; or Master’s degree in a related scientificfield.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Comprehensive understanding of scientific principles.

• General computer skills and ability to quickly learn and mastercomputer programs, databases, and scientific applications.

• Strong analytical skills and excellent judgment.

• Ability to maintain detailed records of experiments andoutcomes.

• Ability to work under deadlines with general guidance isessential.

• Excellent organizational skills and demonstrated ability toaccurately complete detailed work.