Staff Associate I

The Laborotary of Dr. Max O'Donnell, MD is inviting applications for a detail-oriented and self-motivated Staff Associate I to join his research on tuberculosis (TB) in New York City, with duties in Durban, South Africa. The selected candidate will support research efforts focused on drug-resistant TB diagnostics and treatment monitoring. The ideal candidate will possess a Bachelor's degree in microbiology, molecular biology, or a related field, along with expertise in TB laboratory methods. Experience working with clinical TB isolates in a biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory is essential.

Responsibilties:

• Perform laboratory experiments, including culturing, testing, and analyzing clinical TB samples.
• Prepare and handle clinical TB samples in a BSL-3 facility, ensuring compliance with all safety protocols.
• Conduct microbial and molecular analyses, including qPCR, drug susceptibility testing, and microscopy-based assays.
• Accurately record and manage experimental data, maintaining detailed documentation.
• Coordinate research activities with an international team, including daily interactions with collaborators in Durban.
• Contribute to manuscript preparation, research reports, and protocol development.
• Ensure compliance with institutional and international biosafety standards for handling TB samples.
• Participate in training and mentoring junior research staff, as needed.
• Perform additional laboratory and administrative duties as required.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in microbiology, molecular biology, or a related field.
• Knowledge of BSL-3 laboratory techniques and experience working with M. tuberculosis or other mycobacterial species.
• Ability to work independently, with strong organizational and communication skills.
• Ability to travel to South Africa and work for prolonged periods (~3 months at a time) in a BSL-3 laboratory in Durban.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in microbiology or a related field.
• Experience with IRB protocol submissions and clinical microbiology research.
• Previous experience conducting drug susceptibility testing and molecular diagnostics.

Special Indications:

• BSL-3 training required.
• Position is for 1 year, with potential for renewal based on performance and funding.

Columbia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Pay Transparency Disclosure

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.