Research Associate Full-time NEW

Research Associate

This role leads hypothesis-driven research to elucidate molecular mechanisms of protein function and enzymatic activity using advanced genetic, biochemical, and structure–function approaches. It applies expertise in DNA library design, yeast surface display, enzyme kinetics, and mass spectrometry to generate rigorous, reproducible data and support translational research efforts. The position also contributes to mentoring, SOP development, and scholarly outputs, including grants and peer-reviewed publications.

Responsibilities:

• Molecular Biology & Cloning: Golden Gate and Gibson cloning, primer/gene design and codon optimization, routine and error-prone PCR, gel electrophoresis and DNA extraction, and plasmid design and development.
• Yeast Display & Library Engineering: Yeast surface display (YESS2.0), degenerate DNA library design in yeast, library screening and enrichment strategies, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), and next-generation sequencing (NGS) library preparation.
• Protein Expression & Biochemical Characterization: Protein expression and purification, SDS-PAGE and Western blotting, FRET-based kinetic assays, and kinetic analysis including Michaelis–Menten modeling and inhibition studies.
• Analytical, Computational & Data Analysis: Mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS, MALDI-TOF), HPLC, structural visualization (PyMOL), and quantitative data analysis using Prism and Python.
• Leadership, Collaboration & Scientific Communication: Mentorship of undergraduate students and junior researchers in laboratory techniques, experimental design, and scientific communication; coordination with collaborators across UT Austin and external institutions; contribution to grant proposals; presentation of research at national and international conferences; and preparation of manuscripts for high-impact peer-reviewed journals.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Chemical Biology, Immunology, or a closely related field, with demonstrated expertise in mechanistic enzymology.
• Extensive experience in advanced molecular cloning, degenerate DNA library design, and yeast surface display systems (e.g., YESS2.0), including library screening and FACS-based enrichment strategies.
• Strong background in enzyme kinetics and biochemical characterization, including Michaelis–Menten analysis, inhibition assays, protein expression and purification, and analytical techniques such as LC-MS/MS or MALDI-TOF.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and interpret complex datasets using quantitative and computational tools (e.g., Prism, Python, structural visualization platforms).
• Proven record of scientific productivity and leadership, including peer-reviewed publications, grant contributions, effective mentorship of trainees, and collaborative research experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in research development, including preparation.
• Strong foundation in molecular biology techniques, including molecular cloning, PCR primer design, gel electrophoresis, DNA extraction, and Western blotting.
• Expertise in enzyme kinetics, data visualization, and quantitative data analysis, with familiarity in bioinformatics approaches.
• Proven laboratory management skills, including oversight of research operations and training of personnel.
• Excellent mentorship, communication, and collaborative research skills supporting team-based scientific environments.

Salary Range

$70,000 + depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

This position is primarily based in a biomedical research laboratory and involves routine use of molecular biology, biochemistry, and analytical instrumentation. The role requires adherence to institutional safety regulations due to potential exposure to biological materials, recombinant DNA, and laboratory chemicals. Physical demands include extended bench work, fine motor skills for technical procedures, and computer-based data analysis and writing. The schedule is generally full-time during standard business hours, with flexibility to accommodate experimental timelines and research deadlines in a collaborative academic environment.

Required Materials

• Resume/CV
• Minimum of three letters of reference, at least two of which must be from referees outside of the University of Texas at Austin.
• Letter of interest

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.