Short Term Research Assistant (Ayayee Microbial Ecology Group)

at  University of Nebraska at Omaha

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Potential applicants should be versed in molecular techniques, be able to demonstrate initiative, and can take the lead on the project (by doing extensive background readings, protocol development, and validation of techniques) related to the utilization of Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) techniques. We will use FISH to assess the localization of stable and viable commensal bacteria in live and wild-collected hookworms from Ghana. Potential applicants will also be expected to develop lab culturing protocols for rearing hookworms (from eggs to adults on nematode growth media). They must also be willing to learn and perform bioinformatic analyses of associated gut microbiomes of hookworms, as we will first perform 16S sequencing on a subset of these specimens to assess the microbial community of cultured nematodes

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Assist with developing and validating protocols for hookworm rearing in the lab
   from egg to adult.
2. Assist with the validation of protocols for performing FISH on hookworm lab-reared and
   wild-collected hookworm larvae.
3. Perform molecular analyses (DNA extraction and clean up, PCR, 16S sequence analyses).
4. Assists generally in the lab when needed and be a a cooperative lab member.
5. Present results at meetings and conferences.