Associate Academic Research Scientist | School of Medicine - Pediatrics, Emory LOBP

Emory University is a leading research university that fosters excellence and attracts world-class talent to innovate today and prepare leaders for the future. We welcome candidates who can contribute to the excellence of our academic community.

The Associate Research Scientist will serve as a core scientific contributor within the Schinazi Lab, a premier antiviral drug discovery and development program focused on HIV, hepatitis B, herpes viruses, and emerging viral pathogens including flaviviruses, Mpox enterivuses and noroviruses. The laboratory employs a multidisciplinary team spanning medicinal chemistry, virology, molecular biology, toxicology, pharmacology, and immunology, with a track record of advancing compounds from bench to FDA approval.

This role is designed for a scientist with strong hands‑on laboratory expertise in cellular and molecular virology who can independently execute complex experimental workflows supporting antiviral assay development, drug efficacy testing, and in vivo evaluation in rodents. The successful candidate will contribute to assay validation, data rigor, documentation, and the training of junior personnel within a highly collaborative, high-throughput research environment.

The Associate Academic Research Scientist performs a wide range of highly technical and complex research duties and has documented scientific achievements and increasing technical, management, leadership, and professional expertise necessary to advance basic and/or translational research programs.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Demonstrated knowledge of research and experimental platforms for analyzing, design and interpreting results Investigates and recommends potential alternative approaches to improve the quality of results of basic and/or translational research.
• Demonstrates increased responsibility through management of teams and leadership of scientific projects by applying advanced knowledge, skills, and input necessary for protocol development, as well as facilitating in some training aspects of other team members.
• Aids in writing IACUC, IRB, Biosafety and other approval documents.
• Oversees quality assurance of research conducted by other team members.
• May assist in grant and other funding applications as necessary and appropriate, or with approval of the responsible faculty director, may have their own research projects and/or have full responsibilities for specific areas of instrumentation or methodology development and user support.
• With the approval of the responsible faculty director, may be principal investigators on funded proposals.
• Performs other responsibilities as required.

ADDITIONAL JOB DETAILS:

Experimental Research & Technical Execution

• Independently perform a broad range of molecular, cellular, and virological techniques in support of antiviral drug discovery and mechanism-of-action studies.
• Execute complex experiments with precision and reproducibility, including antiviral efficacy assays, cytotoxicity testing, and viral replication inhibition studies, adhering to established protocols and SOPs.
• Culture and maintain mammalian cell lines, produce and quantify viral stocks, and perform downstream molecular analyses (e.g., nucleic acid purification, qPCR, Western blotting, immunoassays).
• Troubleshoot routine and moderately complex experimental challenges and recommend practical solutions to improve assay performance and workflow efficiency.
  
  Documentation, Reporting & Scientific Communication
• Prepare and maintain technical documentation, including protocols, SOPs, study records, and technical reports.
• Analyze and interpret experimental results; prepare charts, graphs, and written summaries for internal review, team meetings, and…