The Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at the University of Washington in Seattle serves as a regional resource for clinical laboratory services required for patient care, research and educational programs in laboratory medicine and pathology. The department now employs 1800 people who work at the award-winning University of Washington Medical Center, Harborview Medical Center and many other clinical and research facilities in the area. The University of Washington (UW) is proud to be one of the nation’s premier educational and research institutions. Our people are the most important asset in our pursuit of achieving excellence in education, research, and community service. Our staff not only enjoys outstanding benefits and professional growth opportunities, but also an environment noted for diversity, community involvement, intellectual excitement and natural beauty.

Our LABORATORY MEDICINE AND PATHOLOGY DEPARTMENT has MULTIPLE outstanding full-time positions for a Research Scientist 2 in Greninger Lab. The employee will serve as a Research Scientist 2 in the Greninger Laboratory to perform research looking at viral discovery using metagenomic next-generation sequencing and subsequent viral characterization, including viral replication, viral-host protein-protein interactions, drug efficacy, and viral evolution. This is an awesome and highly involved position with tremendous responsibilities, combining wet-lab and dry-lab work in the area of emergent viruses.

Responsibilities include constructing and teaching others on the generation of next-generation sequencing libraries, analyzing sequencing data, visualizing data and programming figures, drafting of manuscripts and grants for submission, combined with follow-on wet-lab experiments involving gene synthesis, pseudovirus neutralization and entry assays, and protein purification.

General Duties

1. Creation and optimization of metagenomic next-generation sequencing libraries for unbiased pathogen detection and viral genome recovery. Genome finishing of novel viruses, including optimization of high-throughput methods.
2. Development of next-generation sequencing analysis pipelines for taxonomical analysis and viral genome visualization.
3. Quantitative viral load determination using RT-qPCR, qPCR, ddPCR, including optimization of new assays.
4. Host and teach scientists from Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Peru, Brazil, Bangladesh, Senegal, Vietnam, India, Cameroon, Indonesia, Thailand and possible travel to these countries.
5. Perform molecular procedures including but not limited to real-time PCR, Sanger sequencing, PCR product detection DNA sequencing and next generation sequencing.
6. Write standard operation procedures and protocols and maintain quality control documentation.
7. Optimize protocols and troubleshoot experiments are necessary to generate relevant data and improve data quality.
8. Assist in identifying research project goals; initiates small to moderate size program/projects; work is organized and prioritized appropriately.
9. Assignments and projects are completed within specified time frame; deadlines are consistently met.
10. Lead projects of a small to moderate size and scope; make substantial contributions to determining feasibility of goals and objectives.
11. Train and monitor new employees and guest technicians in experimental procedures and assays, laboratory safety and database maintenance.
12. Coordinate gatekeeper responsibilities for sample repository.
13. Perform work accurately, precisely and meets test completion deadlines. Accommodates schedule changes to cooperatively accomplish required daily work.
14. Contribute data and analyses for grant submissions and assist in the preparation of publications and presentations.
15. Analyze issues and projects thoroughly, considers all factors; obtains and uses resources as necessary.
16. Maintain and complete accurate, legible records. Thoroughly documents any modifications.
17. Provide ongoing feedback; identify development opportunities and actively solicit collaborative projects with other research scientists.
18. Perform other duties as required.

Desired

1. Excellent molecular biology experience with 1-2 years of experience with genomics and next-generation sequencing technologies.
2. Experience in the setting of good laboratory practice (GLP) activities.
3. Experience in virology, including viral culture and pseudoviruses and/or chimeric viruses.
4. Prior mammalian cell culture experience.
5. Prior coding experience, including 1-2 years of bash, python, and R.
6. Excellent thinker and writer.
7. Ability to problem-solve and troubleshoot.