"Research Assistant/Associate"

Position Details

Position Information

Requisition Number
S4916P

Home Org Name
Entomology and Plant Pathology

Division Name
College of Agriculture

Position Title
Research Assistant/Associate

Job Class Code
HA01A/B/C/D-HA02A/B/C/D

Appointment Status
Full-time

Limited Term
Yes

Limited Term Length
2 years

Job Summary

The Potnis Lab in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at Auburn University is seeking a highly motivated individual to provide professional research assistance in the area of computational biology.

The successful candidate will join a team of a research assistant, research fellow, graduate students and undergraduate students, that contributes to multiple projects on plant-microbe interactions. The successful candidate will work on a range of high-throughput sequencing data, such as genomics, transcriptomics, amplicon sequencing, and metagenomics for various ongoing projects and work collaboratively with the team members to advance the knowledge of plant-microbe interactions.

This is a two-year limited term position with the possibility of annual extensions depending on performance and funding.

Applicants must have a basic knowledge of microbial genetics and genomics, must have demonstrated ability to conduct high-throughput sequencing data analyses and must be able to interpret the data analyses. Applicants must be able to work both independently and with others within a research team and have excellent organization, communication, and interpersonal skills.

Essential Functions

• Develop computational pipelines and analyze computational data collected for various experiments and interpret to understand biology of plant-pathogen interactions
• Collaborate with other lab members on various projects to conduct computational analyses in parallel to hands-on experiments
• Present research updates at the team meetings
• Writing, compiling the data, preparing publication-ready figures/tables, and assisting in the manuscript preparations

Why Work at Auburn?

• Life-Changing Impact: Our work changes lives through research, instruction, and outreach, making a lasting impact on our students, our communities, and the world.
• Culture of Excellence: We are committed to leveraging our strengths, resources, collaboration, and innovation as a top employer in higher education.
• We’re Here for You: Auburn offers generous benefits, educational opportunities, and a culture of support and work/life balance.
• Sweet Home Alabama: The Auburn/Opelika area offers southern charm, vibrant downtown scenes, top-ranked schools, and easy access to Atlanta, Birmingham, and the Gulf of Mexico beaches.
• A Place for Everyone: Auburn is committed to fostering an environment where all faculty, staff, and students are welcomed, valued, respected, and engaged.

Minimum Qualifications

Candidates for this role will be assigned the title Research Assistant or Research Associate, and assigned levels I-IV based on their qualifications.

Research Assistant I: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Microbiology, Plant Sciences, Biology, or related natural or social sciences field; no experience required.

Research Assistant II: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Microbiology, Plant Sciences, Biology, or related natural or social sciences field and 2 years of experience in research practices and protocols relevant to the position.

Research Assistant III: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Microbiology, Plant Sciences, Biology, or related natural or social sciences field and 4 years of experience in research practices and protocols relevant to the position.

Research Assistant IV: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Microbiology, Plant Sciences, Biology, or related natural or social sciences field and 6 years of experience in research practices and protocols relevant to the position.

Graduate degrees may be substituted for years of experience. 1 year of education is equivalent to 1 year of experience.

Research Associate I: Master’s degree from an accredited institution in Microbiology, Plant Sciences, Biology, or related natural or social sciences field; no experience required.

Research Associate II: Master’s degree from an accredited institution in Microbiology, Plant Sciences, Biology, or related natural or social sciences field and 2 years of experience in research practices and protocols relevant to the position.

Research Associate III: Master’s degree from an accredited institution in Microbiology, Plant Sciences, Biology, or related natural or social sciences field and 4 years of experience in research practices and protocols relevant to the position.

Research Associate IV: Master’s degree from an accredited institution in Microbiology, Plant Sciences, Biology, or related natural or social sciences field and 6 years of experience in research practices and protocols relevant to the position.

PhD may be substituted for years of experience. 1 year of education is equivalent to 1 year of experience.

Minimum Skills and Abilities

Applicant must be able to work both independently and with others within a research team and have excellent organization, communication, and interpersonal skills.

Minimum License and Certifications

A valid driver’s license or the ability to obtain one prior to employment.

Salary Range
$35,300 - $98,160

Job Category
Agricultural/Veterinary Medicine

City position is located in:
Auburn

State position is located:
Alabama

List any hazardous conditions or physical demands required by this position
Working under challenging conditions (e.g., ability to lift >70 lbs and operate in hot/humid conditions)

Posting Date
11/18/2025

Special Instructions to Applicants

Please utilize the attachment feature and attach the following:

• Resume detailing your past work and research experience
• Cover Letter explaining why you are interested in doing research, why you think your interests fit with my laboratory, how you meet the requirements outlined above, and what are your long-term goals.
• Transcripts

Quick Link for Internal Postings
https://www.auemployment.com/postings/57041

Documents Needed to Apply

Required Documents

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

Optional Documents

1. Other
2. Transcripts