Senior Research Assistant

Description

The ADA Forsyth Institute was founded in 1910 as the Forsyth Dental Infirmary for Children (later, the Forsyth Institute), to provide dental care to the disadvantaged children of Boston. While continuing to serve children in need, yet recognizing the ultimate goal is to prevent dental disease, the Institute in 1915 began to focus on scientific research and is today the world’s leader in oral health research. In October of 2023, the Institute joined with the American Dental Association to form the ADA Forsyth Institute, a 501(c)(3) entity dedicated to improving people’s oral and overall health and powering the profession of dentistry through cutting-edge basic research, creative translational science, innovative clinical technologies, and global public health outreach. Consistent with the Institute’s founding mission, the ADA ForsythKids mobile dental program continues to serve children in need.

ADA Forsyth Institute is a leader in oral microbiology research and translational application. We have a long history of developing technologies that have transformed oral hygiene, enamel preservation, and inflammation control. We are located in Kendall Square, Cambridge, an epicenter of biomedical research with one of the highest densities of colleges and biotechnology companies in the world. In collaboration with our neighboring companies, we are developing leading-edge products that can address unmet diagnostic and prevention needs for oral infectious diseases.

Summary

ADA Forsyth institute announced an exciting new collaboration geared towards creating a fast, inexpensive molecular detection method for oral pathogens based on next-generation CRISPR-Cas and synthetic biology technology platforms (announcement here: https://www.forsyth.org/news/forsyth-institute-sherlock-biosciences-partnership-oral-cavity/). In connection with the collaboration, we are seeking an exceptional candidate to implement and integrate molecular diagnostic assays into point-of-care consumables that accurately diagnose the presence of nucleic acid targets from the oral cavity. The Senior Research Assistant role provides strategic and technical leadership in defining and achieving innovative assays and product development objectives while contributing to partnering activities with internal as well as external business associates. The successful candidate will join an exciting and fast-paced team focused on improving human oral health worldwide through highly innovative synthetic biology-based platforms for diagnostics. We offer benefits and salary competitive with the biotech industry.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of a bachelor's degree (B.A. or B.S.) from a four-year college or university in Microbiology, Biology, Biochemistry or related fields
• Two to four years related experience in assay development or equivalent combination of education and experiences
• Ability to initiate and conduct basic laboratory experiments
• Analyze and interpret datasets & communicate data in a clear and concise manner
• Familiar with molecular biology techniques (e.g., primer design, qPCR, Gel electrophoresis, DNA/RNA purification)
• Familiar with synthetic biology and diagnostic techniques (e.g., in vitro RNA synthesis, RPA, LAMP)
• Ability to work in a team environment, meet deadlines, and prioritize and balance work from multiple colleagues
• Excellent communication and time management skills
• Independently motivated, detail orientated, and strong critical thinking skills
  
  

Preferred qualifications:

• Development, verification, validation, and technology transfer of molecular diagnostic assays
• Conducted experiments to improve assay performance and robustness
• Working experience with CRISPR enzymes and their detection is encouraged
• Having bioinformatic skills in microbial genome and gene analysis is a plus
  
  

ADA Forsyth is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions or any other characteristic protected by law.