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Research Associate

The University of Texas at Austin
retirement plan
United States, Texas, Austin
101 East 27th Street (Show on map)
Mar 28, 2026

Job Posting Title:

Research Associate

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Hiring Department:

Department of Chemistry

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

Exempt

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Earliest Start Date:

Sep 01, 2026

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue

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Location:

UT MAIN CAMPUS

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Job Details:

General Notes

The Department of Chemistry is currently ranked 16th by the most recent US News & World Report survey. The department is a center of excellence with a community of world-class scholars, scientists, teachers and students who are supported by stable funding and state-of-the-art facilities. It is recognized as one of the preeminent academic centers for research and education in chemistry in the country. The Department has the highest average amount of external funding per faculty member in the College of Natural Sciences

Purpose

This role leads hypothesisdriven research to elucidate molecular mechanisms of protein function and enzymatic activity using advanced genetic, biochemical, and structure-function approaches. It applies expertise in DNA library design, yeast surface display, enzyme kinetics, and mass spectrometry to generate rigorous, reproducible data and support translational research efforts. The position also contributes to mentoring, SOP development, and scholarly outputs, including grants and peerreviewed publications.

Responsibilities

  • Molecular Biology & Cloning: Golden Gate and Gibson cloning, primer/gene design and codon optimization, routine and error-prone PCR, gel electrophoresis and DNA extraction, and plasmid design and development.

  • Yeast Display & Library Engineering: Yeast surface display (YESS2.0), degenerate DNA library design in yeast, library screening and enrichment strategies, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), and next-generation sequencing (NGS) library preparation.

  • Protein Expression & Biochemical Characterization: Protein expression and purification, SDS-PAGE and Western blotting, FRET-based kinetic assays, and kinetic analysis including Michaelis-Menten modeling and inhibition studies.

  • Analytical, Computational & Data Analysis: Mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS, MALDI-TOF), HPLC, structural visualization (PyMOL), and quantitative data analysis using Prism and Python.

  • Leadership, Collaboration & Scientific Communication: Mentorship of undergraduate students and junior researchers in laboratory techniques, experimental design, and scientific communication; coordination with collaborators across UT Austin and external institutions; contribution to grant proposals; presentation of research at national and international conferences; and preparation of manuscripts for high-impact peer-reviewed journals.

Required Qualifications
  • Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Chemical Biology, Immunology, or a closely related field, with demonstrated expertise in mechanistic enzymology.

  • Extensive experience in advanced molecular cloning, degenerate DNA library design, and yeast surface display systems (e.g., YESS2.0), including library screening and FACS-based enrichment strategies.

  • Strong background in enzyme kinetics and biochemical characterization, including Michaelis-Menten analysis, inhibition assays, protein expression and purification, and analytical techniques such as LC-MS/MS or MALDI-TOF

  • Demonstrated ability to analyze and interpret complex datasets using quantitative and computational tools (e.g., Prism, Python, structural visualization platforms).

  • Proven record of scientific productivity and leadership, including peer-reviewed publications, grant contributions, effective mentorship of trainees, and collaborative research experience.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Demonstrated experience in research development, including preparation.

  • Strong foundation in molecular biology techniques, including molecular cloning, PCR primer design, gel electrophoresis, DNA extraction, and Western blotting. f grant proposals and scientific publications.

  • Expertise in enzyme kinetics, data visualization, and quantitative data analysis, with familiarity in bioinformatics approaches.

  • Proven laboratory management skills, including oversight of research operations and training of personnel.

  • Excellent mentorship, communication, and collaborative research skills supporting team-based scientific environments.

Salary Range

$70,000 + depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

This position is primarily based in a biomedical research laboratory and involves routine use of molecular biology, biochemistry, and analytical instrumentation. The role requires adherence to institutional safety regulations due to potential exposure to biological materials, recombinant DNA, and laboratory chemicals. Physical demands include extended bench work, fine motor skills for technical procedures, and computer-based data analysis and writing. The schedule is generally full-time during standard business hours, with flexibility to accommodate experimental timelines and research deadlines in a collaborative academic environment.

Required Materials
  • Resume/CV

  • Minimum of three letters of reference, at least two of which must be from referees outside of the University of Texas at Austin.

  • Letter of interest

Importantfor applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers:You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure thatALLRequired Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers:As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questionspresented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

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Employment Eligibility:

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

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Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. This position has the option to elect the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) instead of TRS, subject to the position being 40 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

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Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

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Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer,complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

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Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information.

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Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

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E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university's company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

  • E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
  • Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
  • Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

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Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.

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