Associate Research Scientist- Biological Materials and Processing

Job Details 

Position Overview 

AeroVironment is seeking a highly motivated Associate Scientist to join the Biological Materials and Processing Research Team at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH. The successful candidate will support a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers conducting research focused on plant biotechnology, molecular characterization, biomaterials, and biosynthetic approaches for Air Force-relevant applications. 

The Associate Scientist will work under the direction of experienced scientists and engineers and contribute to laboratory research involving molecular biology, microbiology, plant tissue culture, genetic transformation, microscopy, and biological-material characterization. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Biology, or a related scientific discipline, with demonstrated laboratory or research experience in molecular biology and biotechnology. 

This position provides an opportunity to collaborate with Materials Scientists, Engineers, Bioinformaticians, Chemists, and Microbiologists while gaining experience with a broad range of research techniques, analytical methods, and biological-material processing approaches. As projects evolve, the Associate Scientist may contribute to advanced nucleic-acid analysis, including RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, RT-PCR, qPCR/RT-qPCR, and digital PCR workflows. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Support laboratory research activities related to the identification, characterization, transformation, and evaluation of plant, bacterial, and other biological materials.  

• Perform established molecular biology, microbiology, and plant-biotechnology procedures in accordance with written protocols and guidance from senior researchers.  

• Extract, purify, quantify, and analyze DNA from plant and bacterial samples using established methods and instrumentation.  

• Perform PCR, primer design, gel electrophoresis, DNA quantification, plasmid assembly, molecular cloning, bacterial transformation, and construct verification activities.  

• Culture bacterial strains, perform antibiotic selection, and maintain biological samples and research materials in accordance with established procedures.  

• Support plant tissue culture activities, including the establishment, propagation, maintenance, and optimization of hairy root culture systems.  

• Assist with Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation and molecular characterization of transformed plant material.  

• Prepare samples, reagents, media, and materials for laboratory experiments and research activities.  

• Assist with experimental design, protocol development, process optimization, and troubleshooting under the direction of senior team members.  

• Characterize biological and biomaterial samples using light microscopy, confocal microscopy, differential staining methods, and scanning electron microscopy, as appropriate.  

• Support scanning electron microscopy activities, including sample preparation, imaging, and documentation using available SEM instrumentation.  

• Assist with research involving environmental microbiology and microbial behavior in relevant operational or fuel-associated environments, as assigned.  

• Maintain accurate, organized, and thorough laboratory records, including experimental procedures, observations, measurements, results, and deviations from established protocols.  

• Analyze and document experimental data using established methods and appropriate productivity, scientific, and bioinformatics tools.  

• Use molecular-biology and bioinformatics platforms for sequence analysis, primer design, construct planning, and data interpretation.  

• Communicate research methods, observations, and results through written documentation, technical discussions, and presentations.  

• Collaborate effectively with scientists and engineers from diverse technical disciplines and professional backgrounds.  

• Follow established laboratory safety procedures, quality requirements, security requirements, and organizational policies.  

• Maintain laboratory equipment, work areas, samples, and research materials in accordance with established procedures.  

• Perform other related duties as assigned to support team and program objectives. 

Required Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, or a closely related scientific discipline.  

• U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, if required.  

• Academic, laboratory, internship, or research experience with molecular biology, microbiology, plant biotechnology, or biochemical techniques.  

• Familiarity with DNA extraction and purification, PCR, primer design, gel electrophoresis, and nucleic-acid quantification methods.  

• Familiarity with plasmid assembly, molecular cloning, bacterial transformation, construct verification, bacterial culture, and antibiotic-selection techniques.  

• Familiarity with plant tissue culture, plant transformation, or related plant-biotechnology laboratory methods.  

• Familiarity with microscopy techniques used to prepare, visualize, and characterize biological samples.  

• Ability to follow established written protocols and laboratory procedures accurately and consistently.  

• Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate, organized laboratory records.  

• Basic quantitative, analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.  

• Strong oral and written communication skills.  

• Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary research team.  

• Demonstrated willingness to learn new scientific techniques, instrumentation, and research methods.  

• Familiarity with productivity software such as Microsoft Office and Google Workspace for email, word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, file sharing, and virtual collaboration. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Research or laboratory experience supporting government, academic, or industrial research programs.  

• Experience with plant tissue culture, hairy root culture establishment and optimization, or Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation.  

• Experience with DNA extraction and purification from plant and bacterial samples.  

• Experience with molecular cloning, plasmid assembly, PCR, construct verification, and bacterial transformation.  

• Experience with RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, RT-PCR, qPCR/RT-qPCR, ddPCR, or related nucleic-acid analysis workflows.  

• Familiarity with confocal microscopy, light microscopy, differential staining techniques, scanning electron microscopy, or biological-material characterization methods.  

• Experience using scientific and bioinformatics software such as SnapGene, NCBI, BLAST, IDT PrimerQuest, OligoAnalyzer, or comparable platforms.  

• Experience with environmental microbiology, microbial growth studies, fuel-associated microbial behavior, or related applied microbiology research.  

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• Ability to learn and apply established scientific methods, molecular-biology workflows, and laboratory procedures.  

• Ability to collect, organize, interpret, and communicate experimental data with appropriate guidance.  

• Ability to recognize unexpected results, experimental issues, or sample-quality concerns and communicate them promptly to senior team members.  

• Ability to manage multiple laboratory tasks while maintaining attention to detail, quality, and accuracy.  

• Ability to contribute to protocol development, workflow optimization, and troubleshooting activities under guidance.  

• Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research environment.  

• Ability to communicate technical information clearly to both technical and non-technical team members.  

• Demonstrated curiosity and interest in biotechnology, biomaterials, molecular biology, and research and development.  

• Ability to adapt to changing project priorities and learn new techniques as research requirements evolve. 

Work Environment 

This position involves working primarily in a laboratory and research environment at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The employee will work with biological materials, laboratory equipment, analytical instrumentation, and computer-based research and documentation systems. The position requires adherence to applicable laboratory safety procedures, security requirements, and organizational policies. 

The Associate Scientist will work under established procedures and the guidance of experienced scientists and engineers while progressively developing the knowledge and skills necessary to perform increasingly complex research activities.