AHRI Vacancies 2022 Apply For Research Assistant Jobs In Durban, KwaZulu-Natal

The AHRI Research Associate at the Sigal Lab would supervise and carry out an NIH R01 (repurposed) and BMGF funded project to characterize new variants of SARS-CoV-2 and their escape from vaccines, natural immunity, and changes in pathogenicity.

In addition, the Research Associate would play a key administrative role in the functioning of the laboratory, including ensuring the smooth running of the laboratory, facilitation/supervision of a subset of projects, participation in funding applications and reporting, and administrative tasks associated with publication including completion of the publication process tasks such as reformatting manuscripts and presentation of Methods and other sections according to journal specifications. The Research Associate requires experience in infection biology that can be applied to SARS-CoV-2 variant research and in project management and supervision.

Overview of Duties
• Rapid initiation of a research project involving emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2.
• Supervision of a team of researchers working on at least one project unrelated to the primary project of responsibility, including the completion of agreed timeline-oriented milestones.
• Responsible for the smooth functioning of the laboratory, including assisting in financial reporting, staffing, and reagents/equipment.

• Responsible for report submission to NIH on the main research project.
• Data generation for publication and future grant applications, and participation in grant applications.
• Completion of publication associated tasks including reformatting papers to meet journal specifications, proofing, agreements, payment of open access invoices, and similar tasks.

Minimum Qualifications
1. PhD in virology, microbiology, cell biology, or related field

Minimum Experience
1. PhD with at least 3 year of post-doctoral experience
2. Track record of publications
3. Experience with experimental approaches to study viruses

Skills Required
1. Familiarity with virology procedures and work.
2. Independent work on primary project including experimental design using an ELN, plan implementation, analysis of results, and construction of publication quality figures.
3. Supervision of team members on primary project and two secondary projects, including on time delivery on agreed milestones.
4. RPPR reporting for NIH.

5. Writing and formatting of research manuscripts according to journal requirements and administrative tasks associated with publication
6. Contribution to and co-writing of funding applications.
7. Lab organization and budgeting.
8. Ability to work in Biosafety level 3

Abilities Required
1. Ability to work with laboratory members and financial and grants personnel to generate smooth laboratory working environment and budgeting.
2. Ability to supervise team members, both junior and senior.
3. On time delivery on milestones and rapid turn-around of publication requirements

As part of AHRI’s COVID-19 mitigation protocols and to increase the safety of our staff, this position has been classified as a high-risk position and as such applicants will be required to submit proof of vaccination against COVID-19 when applying

Closing date: 15 August 2022