Associate Microbiologist

Overview Do you marvel at the complexity of biology and seek to leverage microbiology in creative ways? Do you want to explore the microbes that enable our daily lives and are pivotal to our National Security? Do you love contributing your microbiology subject matter expertise to an interdisciplinary team of scientists focused on application development for National Defense? If you answered yes, we invite you to join the Biological Sciences Group at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL). We are seeking a highly motivated microbiologist to contribute to a team focused on engineering microbial metabolic pathways. As part of the Biological Sciences Group, in the Research Exploratory Development Department, you will contribute to building outstanding expertise in molecular biology in pursuit of challenges in national security. As a Microbiology Associate you will… Responsibilities Drive experimental execution across projects involving engineering of non-model microbes. Work with a variety of non-lab adapted yeast and bacterial microbial systems. Assist and collaborate with scientists in support of laboratory-based experimentation. Develop, troubleshoot, and optimize experimental protocols and study design. Assist with basic laboratory functions, including lab cleanliness, organization, and equipment upkeep. Be a part of a team providing leadership in the development of new opportunities and support internal initiatives, driving technical innovation and growth in areas relevant to APL sponsors. Communicate key findings both internally at team meetings and externally to sponsors. Participate in the broader APL community by presenting data to interdisciplinary groups and to department management. Qualifications Minimum Qualifications Have a B.S. in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, or a similar field. 1+ year of experience in a laboratory setting. Experience culturing a variety of bacteria and yeast. Experience designing, running, and troubleshooting a wide range of biological assays. Proficiency in basic molecular biology techniques, including DNA and RNA manipulation and analysis, qPCR, assay development, microscopy techniques, and microbial cell culture. Ability to obtain an Interim Secret level security clearance by start date and ultimately obtain a TS/SCI clearance; eligibility includes U.S. citizenship. Preferred Qualifications MS in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, or a related field with at least 3 years of laboratory experience. Experience working with non-lab adapted microbial strains such as Rhodopseudomonas palustris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Corynebacterium glutamicum. Experience cultivating and manipulating anaerobic microbes. Experience with assays characterizing microbial surface colonization and biofilm formation. Experience in genetic engineering, metabolic engineering, or biomaterials. Experience with environmental microbiology, fungi, or microbiome systems. About Us Why Work at APL? The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation’s most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates. At APL, we celebrate diverse perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL’s campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. APL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities; if you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io. The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL’s good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on location, experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy. Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Salary Minimum Rate: $85,000 Annually Maximum Rate: $195,000 Annually #J-18808-Ljbffr The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory