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Req #: 231750

Department: DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACY

Posting Date: 04/01/2024

Closing Info: Open Until Filled

Salary: $5,000 - $5,800 per month

Shift: First Shift

Notes: As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here. (https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/02/benefits-summary-classified-staff-greater-than-half-time-20220908_a11y.pdf)

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

The Research Scientist/Engineer 2 (E S UAW RSE) who fills this position will be engaged in research into antimicrobial pharmacodynamics including mechanisms of resistance, prevention of resistance, and developing strategies to overcome resistance. This position is funded by a grant focused on understanding glycopeptide cross-resistance in Staphylococcus aureus.

The long-acting lipoglycopeptide dalbavancin can select for cross-resistance to vancomycin and daptomycin, which play critical roles in the management of invasive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. This cross-resistance is highly correlated with the emergence of mutations in the walKR pathway but it remains unclear how WalKR dysfunction leads to resistance to each agent or whether this resistance can be mitigated. Our interdisciplinary team proposes to use integrated and complementary techniques to determine the mechanisms through which walKR mutations lead to dalbavancin, vancomycin, and daptomycin cross- resistance, and to use beta-lactams and other metabolic modulators to re-sensitize mutants and prevent resistance. The purpose of this and other work we do is to guard against the threat of antimicrobial resistance by optimizing available therapies and identifying new targets for anti-resistance interventions.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Antimicrobial Testing - 65%

• Performing susceptibility testing assays, time-kill assays for PK/PD analysis and synergy testing.

• Setting up and maintaining in vitro pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic infection models (e.g. 1-compartment, hollow fiber, endocardial vegetation, biofilm).

• Serial passage studies for resistance selection.

• Preparation of specialized broth and agar media, buffers, drug stocks and related dilutions and calculations.

• Edit and write reports.Laboratory Compliance and Operations - 35%

• Serve as the laboratory manager and work closely with the PI to coordinate and execute microbiology experiments.

• Maintain laboratory operations and order including: facilitating laboratory compliance with all EHS policies and inspections; ensuring the maintenance of laboratory equipment, supply levels, and cleanliness.

• Training and/or assisting students and post-docs; maintaining and improving laboratory organization and protocols including the strain library; shipping and receiving biohazards; and providing written and oral reports to the PI and other relevant personnel as to the state of lab operations.

• Other duties as assigned. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, bioengineering, or related field and two years of relevant experience, OR Equivalent combination of education/experience.

• Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Good aseptic technique and the ability to maintain uncontaminated cultures for days to weeks.

• Basic microbiology skills (e.g. plate streaking, making McFarland standard suspensions, inoculating and sampling liquid cultures, multichannel pipetting, serial dilution and colony enumeration).

• Strong basic algebra for preparing drug stocks based on chemical purity, and dilutions thereof.

• Strong organizational skills.

• Strong communication skills.

• Internally motivated. DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Previous experience with BSL2 (or higher) bacteria, especially S. aureus.

• Molecular genetic skills especially allelic exchange in S. aureus.

• Experience with database design and maintenance.

• Experience with GraphPad Prism.

• Experience with syringe pumps and/or peristaltic pumps. Application Process: The application process may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are access ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.

University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.