O'Connor Lab Research Specialist

Job Summary

We are seeking a Research specialist to join the O'Connor Lab's environmental surveillance team and perform sample processing for a new study conducted in collaboration with the laboratory of Dr. Jonathan Temte, founder of the Oregon Child Absenteeism due to Respiratory Disease Study (ORCHARDS) program at UW‑Madison. ORCHARDS investigates the causes of child absenteeism from school, and the addition of household air sampling provides a new window onto respiratory viral transmission within the home.

During the 2026‑2027 school year, paired clinical swab and air samples will be collected from participants with respiratory viral infections across up to 200 households and delivered to our laboratory for intake, processing, sequencing, and analysis.

Responsibilities include coordinating and executing sample processing for both clinical swabs and air samples, running downstream molecular biology assays, and analyzing data to identify the respiratory pathogens present in each participating household. The successful candidate will work alongside a PhD scientist to understand the data collected from this project, organize and process samples, develop new molecular analyses, and evaluate and publicize the results of the project.

The research specialist will also manage the organization and processing of the samples for the study, tracking thousands of samples through multi‑step workflows, maintaining timelines and deliverables for our program, contribute to data analysis, manuscript preparation, and other lab projects as needed, and maintain rigorous records and documentation. Outstanding written and verbal scientific communication skills are essential.

• Participates in the development, interpretation, and implementation of research methodology and materials.
• Operates, cleans, and maintains organization of research equipment and research area; tracks inventory levels and places replenishment orders.
• Provides operational guidance on day‑to‑day activities of unit or program staff and/or student workers.
• Receives and organizes samples, maintains electronic experiment records, and spreadsheets.
• Performs literature reviews and writes reports.
• Reviews, analyzes, and interprets data and documents results for presentations and internal/external reporting.
• Conducts research experiments according to established protocols with moderate impact to the project(s); collects data and monitors test results.
• Manages organization and processing of the study’s samples, tracking thousands of samples through multi‑step workflows and maintaining timelines and deliverables.
• Works with a PhD scientist to refine and implement improved techniques for sequencing and data analysis.
• This position requires work to be completed onsite, at a designated campus work location.

• Experience designing and conducting experiments.
• Experience in data collection and analysis.
• Experience organizing large numbers of samples.
• Experience with written and verbal scientific communication.

Bachelor’s Degree preferred; focus in public health, immunology, microbiology, virology, or a related field is preferred.

Starting salary $61,780 annually; negotiable based on experience and qualifications.

Employees can expect generous vacation, holidays, and sick leave; competitive insurance and savings accounts; retirement benefits. For more information, refer to the campus benefits webpage.

School of Medicine and Public Health, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, O'Connor Lab.

University sponsorship is not available for this position, including transfers of sponsorship and TN visas. The selected applicant must be eligible to work in the United States as a citizen or national of the U.S., a lawful permanent resident, or a foreign national authorized to work in the U.S. without employer sponsorship.

Tia Seguin, tia.seguin,

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW‑Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals. We also commit to creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran, and other bases defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. The University of Wisconsin‑Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.