Senior Research Associate

University of Georgia

retirement plan

United States, Georgia, Athens

Aug 08, 2025

Posting Details

Posting Number	S13976P
Working Title	Senior Research Associate
Department	VPR-Complex Carbohyd Rsch Ctr
About the University of Georgia	Since our founding in 1785, the University of Georgia has operated as Georgia's oldest, most comprehensive, and most diversified institution of higher education (https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 235 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University's main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University's enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly formed School of Medicine.
About the College/Unit/Department
College/Unit/Department website
Posting Type	External
Retirement Plan	TRS or ORP
Employment Type	Employee
Benefits Eligibility	Benefits Eligible
Full/Part time	Full Time
Work Schedule
Additional Schedule Information	Normal hours are Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm but hours and days could vary based on research.
Advertised Salary	$65,000
Posting Date	08/06/2025
Open until filled	Yes
Closing Date
Proposed Starting Date	09/15/2025
Special Instructions to Applicants
Location of Vacancy	Athens Area
EEO Policy Statement	The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).
USG Core Values Statement	The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning, as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct. Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Position Information

Classification Title	Research Professional AD
FLSA	Exempt
FTE	1.0
Minimum Qualifications	Requires at least a baccalaureate degree in the field. Please contact your Human Resources office for an evaluation of education/experience in lieu of the required minimum qualifications.
Preferred Qualifications	PhD in biochemistry and/or molecular biology. The applicant is expected to have an exceptional track record with first author publications supporting expertise in recombinant protein expression in mammalian cells and bacteria, including protein purification, characterization, and enzymatic assays.
Position Summary	The successful candidate will be a highly experienced biochemist with detailed knowledge in recombinant protein expression, protein purification, enzyme assays and kinetic analysis. The candidate is expected to have experience in personnel supervision, have good interpersonal skills to work in a diverse research environment, and have an exceptional track record of publications in the protein expression and characterization field. The successful applicant for this position will interact with other faculty members, staff, students, and the lab PI (Dr. Moremen) as well as faculty, staff and students in other departments on campus and outside of the University. The candidate will help in the supervision of other members of the Moremen lab. In addition, the candidate will be expected to contribute to preparation of reports and publication of their research efforts.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies	Recombinant protein expression in mammalian cells and bacteria. Experience in recombinant protein purification, characterization, and enzymatic assays. Exceptional track record with first-author publications supporting expertise in recombinant protein expression in mammalian cells and bacteria, including protein purification, characterization, and enzymatic assays.
Physical Demands	Normal lab activity.
Is driving a responsibility of this position?	No
Is this a Position of Trust?	Yes
Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources?	No
Does this position require a P-Card?	No
Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position?	No
Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care?	No
Does this position have Security Access (e.g., public safety, IT security, personnel records, patient records, or access to chemicals and medications)	Yes
Credit and P-Card policy	Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website.
Background Investigation Policy	Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website.

Duties/Responsibilities

Oversight, Design, and Generation of Glycoenzyme Expression Constructs

Design recombinant expression constructs for a large library of glycoenzymes, using computational analysis of modeled protein structures and applying protein engineering strategies to target specificities in glycan synthesis.
Plan and execute site-directed mutagenesis, domain swapping, and construct optimization, ensuring a range of enzyme variants to yield broad substrate and activity ranges.
Develop and document experimental protocols for cloning, expression, and characterization of glycoenzymes, maintaining accurate and reproducible workflows.
Evaluate protein models and predict structure-function relationships to prioritize constructs for synthesis and analysis.
Troubleshoot construct design issues, incorporating feedback from initial expression and activity results to refine and improve enzyme design.

Percentage of time

Duties/Responsibilities

Oversight and Execution of Protein Purification and Characterization

Oversee and perform large-scale expression and purification of recombinant proteins in various host systems (e.g., E. coli, mammalian cells), troubleshooting issues in protein yield, solubility, and purity.
Conduct detailed biophysical and enzymatic analyses (e.g., SDS-PAGE, thermal stability, enzyme assays, kinetic profiling), characterizing both wild-type and engineered enzyme forms for activity and stability.
Optimize purification protocols (affinity, size-exclusion) for recovery of active recombinant proteins, including scaling up for preparative purposes.
Analyze and interpret kinetic parameters (e.g., Km, Vmax, turnover number) for multiple substrates to generate comparative data datasets for enzyme variants.
Document experimental outcomes, maintaining accurate lab records and preparing technical summaries to guide team efforts.

Percentage of time

Duties/Responsibilities

Supervision and Mentoring

Directly supervise research technician(s), graduate, and undergraduate students, assigning tasks, setting priorities, and monitoring progress related to enzyme expression projects.
Develop training materials and provide hands-on instruction, ensuring junior staff and trainees are proficient in molecular biology, protein expression, and analytical methods.
Facilitate regular check-ins and constructive feedback sessions, mentoring trainees and fostering a collegial, high-performance group culture.
Organize and lead project meetings for supervised staff, clarifying goals, troubleshooting experiments, and resolving challenges as they arise.

Percentage of time

Duties/Responsibilities

Project Reporting and Communication

Prepare detailed written reports summarizing project status, challenges, milestones, and recent findings for distribution to the PI, collaborators, and funding bodies.
Present project progress and troubleshoot issues at weekly laboratory meetings, using data visualizations and oral communication skills to clearly communicate complex results.
Contribute to the preparation of manuscripts, grant applications, and presentations for scientific conferences, as required by the PI.

Percentage of time

Duties/Responsibilities

Coordination with External Collaborators

Coordinate experimental efforts and timelines with outside collaborative partners, including academic and industry groups.
Prepare and ship samples (proteins, constructs, data) according to collaboration agreements, ensuring compliance with shipping regulations and quality standards.
Draft and review collaborative reports summarizing shared results and experimental findings.
Serve as the primary contact for collaborators, responding to technical questions, coordinating material transfers, and ensuring joint objectives are met.

Percentage of time