Research Associate

Company Summary:

Phigenics provides independent expert guidance and advanced technologies to our clients to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and overall safety of water systems.  Our clients include a diverse mix of industry leaders in healthcare, hospitality, government, higher education, retail, and manufacturing facilities.  Phigenics does not sell water treatment chemicals and is not biased toward any treatment technology or supplier.

Position Summary:

The Research Associate will report to the Research and Development Supervisor while working with the Phigenics Research and Innovation Team (phiRIT) to support the development and organization of research projects and initiatives. 

Key Duties:

• Responsible for the full commercial development process of a single project
• Accurately documents in laboratory notebook and official notebook
• Assists with the commercial development of other projects within phiRIT
• Required to present findings at lab meetings, S&G meetings, and/or for other internal purposes
• Participates in training of Phigenics personnel on newly commercialized products
• Participates in external company communications (webinars/meetings)
• Support the R&D Team to generate and publish scientific publications (editing, revisions, authorship). First-author papers are a possibility but not required
• Knowledgeable of all projects within phiRIT and able to troubleshoot and offer experimental design help
• Assists with processing commercial samples in the phiRIT laboratory when needed
• Reviews/sends client reports
• Offers knowledge/insight/ideas for new commercial innovation opportunities
• No supervision responsibilities
• Continuing education is strongly encouraged
• Travel for conferences and/or internal company processes is scheduled in advance 

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelors of Science Degree in the life sciences
• 1-3 years of commercial R&D experience or lab experience outside of academia
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
• Demonstrated presentation and facilitation skills
• Comfortable asking clarifying and confirming questions, listening, and facilitating group discussion to determine action plans
• Willing  to work in urgent or emergent situations and under changing circumstances
• Self-motivated and directed. "Can do" attitude
• Extreme attention to detail and timelines
• Flexible, accountable, and able to work independently
• Strong desire to learn new concepts
• Demonstrated commitment to high ethical standards and a diverse workplace
• Ability to adapt to a fast-paced continually changing business and work environment while managing multiple priorities
• Understand and use MS Office, Google Suite applications, JIRA agile project management software, and other software applications necessary for the role.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Bachelors of Science Degree in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, or Microbiology
• 3 to 6 years of commercial R&D experience, graduate school lab experience can be substituted for some commercial R&D experience
• Understand potable and utility-building water systems and applications of water management beyond traditional waterborne pathogens of focus (e.g., Legionella) 
• Experienced in technical communication, both verbal and written forms
• Water-related experience in engineering, construction, or related sciences (e.g., microbiology, chemistry)

Work Environment / Travel:

This position is a full-time laboratory position working with Biosafety Level 2 organisms. Position requires flexibility to hold remote meetings primarily via Zoom and other video conferencing technologies for internal and external meetings. Dress for client-facing interactions is business professional or female equivalent.  Dress for internal meetings is business casual. If visiting a client site, the wearing of PPE is sometimes required. Travel requirements for this role are estimated at 10-20% and include in-person support of strategic research studies, industry conferences, and internal Phigenics team meetings. 

**Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

**Phigenics LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate based on actual or perceived race, creed, color, religion, alien age or national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability or handicap, sex, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, arrest record, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.