Location: Raleigh,NC, USA
The Fletcher lab is in the Department of Population Health and Pathobiology at North Carolina State University's College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM). The CVM is a dynamic community whose members are dedicated to preparing veterinarians and veterinarian scientists while advancing animal and human health from the cellular level through entire ecosystems. The College has gained international recognition on the strength of its teaching, research, engagement, and patient care efforts and is ranked 3rd among the nation's 28 colleges of veterinary medicine in the current U.S. News & World Report survey. The college is committed to practicing inclusivity, making community a priority and promoting innovation. We embrace effective leadership and we champion personal and professional growth
Located on 180 acres near downtown Raleigh, the College encompasses 20 buildings on the main Centennial Biomedical Campus. Instruction is in three departments-Clinical Sciences, Molecular Biomedical Sciences, and Population Health & Pathobiology. In addition to the four-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, there are programs leading to master and doctoral degrees in several areas with numerous opportunities for specialization.
Essential Job Duties
A Research Associate position is available in Prof. Josh Fletcher's group at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine (NCSU CVM). In this position, the candidate will work directly with the Principal Investigator (PI) to acquire and analyze data for manuscripts and grant preparation. Primarily, the candidate will perform experiments and help run the day-to-day operations of the lab.
This will include
* Ordering supplies and reagents
* Maintaining records (BUAs, IACUCs, SOPs
* Personnel training records, receipts from orders, etc.)
* Helping train new personnel on frequently used techniques in the lab
* Supporting graduate student or postdoc projects as needed.
The Fletcher laboratory studies how bacterial pathogens interact with their hosts and the host's indigenous microbiota, with a focus on metabolite exchange and the nutritional milieu of the inflamed environment. In particular, we're interested in how the anaerobe Fusobacterium nucleatum colonizes the gut of people with cystic fibrosis (CF), and how the bacterium or its metabolites influence CF-associated colorectal cancer. A second project in the lab is focused on how anaerobe-derived short chain fatty acids influence Staphylococcus aureus branched chain amino acid and branched chain fatty acid metabolism and the downstream effects on lipid membrane homeostasis.
Research efforts will contribute toward publications, presentations, and other funding opportunities.
Other Responsibilities
Qualifications
Minimum Education and Experience
* Relevant post-baccalaureate degree
OR
* Bachelor's degree in microbiology or related field (e.g., biology, genetics, biochemistry, etc.) plus 3 or more years of independent research experience, or sustentative relevant independent experience and education.
Other Required Qualifications
* Prior independent research experience
* Strong verbal and written communication skills
* Excellent organizational skills with strong attention to detail
* Ability to adhere to tight deadlines, goal oriented, and high level of intrinsic motivation
* Ability to work independently and as part of a team
* Computer literacy with Microsoft Office and data analysis software (Prism)
* Computational skills (Linux, R, Python, etc.)
Preferred Qualifications
* Ability to perform growth curves in 96-well plates, clone, and mutagenesis, animal models of infection, or bioinformatics techniques like RNA seq or microbiome analysis.
Required License(s) or Certification(s)
n/a
Valid NC Driver's License required No Commercial Driver's License required No