Research Assistant in Microbial Evolution

Research Assistant in Microbial Evolution

As a Jesuit, Catholic institution of higher education, we seek candidates who will contribute to our strategic plan to deliver a Transformative Education in the Jesuit tradition. To learn more about Loyola University Chicago's mission, candidates should consult our website .edu/mission/. For information about the university's focus on transformative education, they should consult our website .edu/transformativeed.

Job Title - RESEARCH ASSISTANT III

Position Number - 8102886

Work Modality
- Fully In-Person

Job Category
- University Staff

Job Type
- Full-Time

FLSA Status
- Exempt

Campus
- Rogers Park-Lake Shore Campus

Department Name - BIOLOGY

Location Code - BIOLOGY (02112A)

Is this split and/or fully grant funded? - Yes

Duties and Responsibilities
- The position is in the lab of Dr. Caroline Turner. The research assistant will be responsible for establishing and maintaining an evolution experiment with

E. coli, requiring daily maintenance. Our lab studies evolutionary and ecological processes by conducting evolution experiments with bacteria. Duties include (i) conducting evolution experiments with

E. coli bacteria; (ii) measuring genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of the evolved bacteria; (iii) maintaining a safe and organized laboratory environment; (iv) supervising undergraduate students; (v) analyzing data.

The ideal candidate will have strong organizational skills, intellectual curiosity, and three years of research experience. Key skills include:
Sterile culture technique, experience conducting microbial evolution experiments, data analysis using Excel, R, and Unix command line interface, basic molecular biology.

Minimum Education and/or Work Experience
- Bachelor's degree in related field and one to two years of related experience.

Applicants must have a bachelor's degree in biology, microbiology, or a related field. Our evolution experiments require daily transfers of bacteria and lab members take turns with weekend lab work. Therefore, applicants must be available to work weekend hours on a periodic basis.

Computer Skills
- Sterile culture technique, experience conducting microbial evolution experiments, data analysis using Excel, R, and Unix command line interface, basic molecular biology.

Open Date - 07/16/2026

Position Maximum Salary or Hourly Rate - $50,000/ann

Position Minimum Salary or Hourly Rate - $50,000/ann

About Loyola University Chicago
- Founded in 1870, Loyola University Chicago is one of the nation's largest Jesuit, Catholic universities, recognized for its academic excellence, commitment to community engagement, and leadership in sustainability. A Carnegie R1 research institution, Loyola leverages its status as one of an elite group of universities with the highest level of research activity to advance knowledge that serves communities and creates global impact.

With 15 schools, colleges, and institutes—including Business, Law, Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences—Loyola operates three primary campuses in the greater Chicago area and one in Rome, Italy, that provide students a transformative, globally connected learning experience. Consistently ranked among the nation's top universities by U.S. News & World Report, Loyola is a STARS Gold-rated institution that is ranked as one of the country's most sustainable campuses by The Princeton Review and has earned distinctions from Ameri Corps and the Carnegie Foundation for its longstanding record of service and community engagement.

Guided by its Jesuit mission and commitment to caring for the whole person, Loyola educates ethical leaders who think critically, act with purpose, and strive to create a more just and sustainable world.