Research Assistant

The ADA Forsyth Institute was founded in 1910 as the Forsyth Dental Infirmary for Children and has since evolved into a world leader in oral health research. The Institute joined the American Dental Association in October 2023 to become the ADA Forsyth Institute, a 501(c)(3) entity dedicated to improving people’s oral and overall health through cutting‑edge research and outreach. The ADA Forsyth Kids mobile dental program continues to serve children in need.

The ADA Forsyth Institute invites applications for a full‑time Research Assistant I to join the Bidlack Laboratory within the Division of Craniofacial Biology and Bioengineering. This position supports highly collaborative, team‑based research focused on dental development, mineralization processes, enamel and dentin treatment strategies, oral‑systemic health, and the use of teeth as biomarkers. The Research Assistant I will contribute to experimental design, data acquisition, laboratory operations, and collaborative project coordination.

This role requires strong technical expertise, organizational skills, and the ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary research environment. The position is embedded in highly collaborative, interdisciplinary research initiatives, requiring hands‑on laboratory work, including animal handling and use of specialized instrumentation.

• Conduct experimental laboratory research using techniques including:
  • Light and electron microscopy
  • Raman spectroscopy
  • Microcomputed tomography (micro-CT)
  • Mechanical testing of mineralized tissues and dental materials
• Perform studies investigating mechanisms of healthy and atypical tooth development and interactions between dental substrates, materials, and microbes.
• Handle rodent models, including animal care coordination, genotyping, tissue harvesting, sectioning, and histological analysis.
• Maintain compliance with laboratory safety regulations, including safe handling of biohazardous materials and adherence to aseptic technique.
• Calibrate, maintain, and troubleshoot analytical instrumentation.
• Perform validation and quality control studies to ensure reproducibility and compliance with scientific standards.
• Analyze, tabulate, and graph data; prepare technical reports; present findings at team meetings; and contribute to manuscripts and dissemination of research findings.
• Maintain laboratory notebooks, digital records, specimen archives, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Train laboratory personnel on instrumentation and workflows.
• Support collaborative project coordination, including documentation and scheduling.

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, biomedical sciences, bioengineering, or a related scientific field.
• Minimum of two (2) years of laboratory bench experience.
• Experience working with rodent models, including animal handling and genotyping.
• Experience with histology, immunohistochemistry, and gel electrophoresis.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and documentation skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team‑based research setting.

• Experience with micro-CT, Raman spectroscopy, or advanced imaging techniques.
• Experience contributing to peer‑reviewed publications.
• Familiarity with data acquisition and statistical analysis software.

ADA Forsyth Institute is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy‑related conditions or any other characteristic protected by law.

$45,000 - $55,000 gross annual salary hiring range