What are the responsibilities and job description for the Research Associate, Plant Biotechnology/Phenomics position at Tuskegee University?
Position Information
Position Title
Research Associate, Plant Biotechnology/Phenomics
Status
Full Time
Job Summary
Successful candidates will play key roles in advancing cutting-edge research in plant biology by integrating biotechnological, genomic, and bioengineering approaches. These positions will focus on the design, execution, and analysis of experiments.
Essential Job Duties
- Conduct Laboratory Research o Design and execute experiments in plant biotechnology, genomics, and molecular biology, including genetic engineering, and tissue culture techniques.
- Conduct molecular cloning, sequencing, and genotyping and functional gene validation (PCR/qPCR)
- Data Analysis and Interpretation o Analyze experimental data using bioinformatics tools and statistical software.
- Interpret results and draw meaningful conclusions to guide future research directions.
- Collaborate on Research Projects.
- Work closely with principal investigators, postdoctoral fellows, and research team members to develop and implement research plans.
- Maintain Laboratory Equipment and Resources.
- Ensure proper maintenance, calibration and documentation for laboratory equipment.
- Manage laboratory inventories, reagents, consumables, and order supplies as required.
- Document and Report Research Findings.
- Maintain detailed and accurate laboratory records of experiments, protocols, and results.
- Prepare reports, manuscripts, and presentations for internal meetings and dissemination.
- Supervise and Mentor Students/ Provide mentorship and training to graduate/undergraduate students, interns, and laboratory assistants.
- Assist in developing training materials and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
- Ensure Compliance with Safety and Regulatory Standards.
- Adhere to biosafety, chemical safety, and environmental health and safety guidelines.
- Maintain compliance with institutional, federal, and environmental regulations governing research.
- Stay Current with Scientific Advances.
- Review and summarize current literature in plant biotechnology, genomics, and related fields.
- Attend seminars, workshops, and conferences to present research findings and network with peers.
- Contribute to Grant Writing and Project Proposals.
- Assist in the preparation of grant applications, progress reports, and progress summaries to secure funding for future research.
- Support Laboratory Management. Assist in managing daily laboratory operations, including scheduling, resource allocation, and coordination of research activities.
Qualifications (Education, Experience and Specialized Training)
- Ph.D. in Plant Biotechnology, Plant Genetics, Molecular Biology, Genomics, or a closely related disciplines.
- Minimum of 2-3 years of hands-on experience in a laboratory setting, focused on plant biotechnology, molecular biology, or genomics research.
- Proven record of independent research and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- Experience in plant tissue culture, genetic transformation, and molecular cloning is highly desirable.
- Experience with bioinformatics tools, next-generation sequencing (NGS) data analysis, and other genomics-related software is an advantage .
- Demonstrated experience in laboratory research, including data collection, analysis, and scientific writing. Experience with sweet potato and Arabidopsis regeneration and molecular characterization, tomato, sweet potato and peanut in-planta bioengineering.
Physical Demands
- Ability to operate standard office equipment
- Ability to walk short distances
- Ability to lift and carry parcels, packages and other items
- Ability to view a computer terminal
Skills and Attributes
Knowledge:
- Knowledge of laboratory safety protocols, and environmental health regulations
- .Proficiency in molecular biology techniques, including DNA, RNA, and and protein extraction, PCR/qPCR, electrophoresis, sequencing, genotyping.
- Strong expertise in genetic transformation, and gene-editing techniques
(e.g., CRISPR, RNA interference), and functional genomics approaches. - Familiarity with computational tools such as BLAST, R, Python, Galaxy, etc.).
Skills:
- Excellent organizational and analytical skills, attention to detail and adherence to research integrity.
- Strong problem-solving ability and technical troubleshooting skills.
- Effective communication and teamwork skills in diverse and multidisciplinary research environments.
Ability:
- The ability to work autonomously while also contributing effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Demonstrated ability to mentor and supervise students, or interns.
- Experience in grant writing and preparation of research proposals is a plus. Ability to work independently as well as part of a collaborative team.
Posting Detail Information
Posting Number
S950
Will this position required travel?
Yes
Will this position required night, weekend, and after hour work?
Yes
Will this positon be supported using grants or contract funding?
Yes
Number of Vacancies
2
Desired Start Date
Position End Date (if temporary)
Open Date
12/03/2025
Close Date
03/03/2026
Open Until Filled
No
Special Instructions Summary
Each applicant, including all current employees, must complete and submit the following documents:
- Tuskegee University employment application
- Cover Letter
- Resume/CV
- Recommendation letters
- Copies of unofficial transcripts.
- Please note that official transcripts(s) will be required upon hire
Quick Link for Internal Postings
https://tuskegee.peopleadmin.com/postings/3470