Biotech Researcher at VISHC
About VISHC & the Project:
The VinUni–Illinois Smart Health Center (VISHC) is seeking an enthusiastic and detail-oriented Biotech Researcher to join our interdisciplinary Phage-Host Interaction project. The candidate will be responsible for conducting crucial experiments, ensuring the quality of phage banks, and providing empirical data to validate the predictive models built by the Bioinformatics team. This role requires meticulous lab management and strong expertise in molecular biology techniques.
Center: VinUni-Illinois Smart Health Center (VISHC), Hanoi, Vietnam.
Supervisor(s):
Dr. Hien Ngo (Postdoctoral Fellow, VISHC) & other Co-Principal Investigators (Dr. Khoa Doan & Prof. Andrew Taylor-Robinson, VinUni; Prof. Helen Nguyen, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign – UIUC).
Compensation: Negotiable, commensurate with experience and qualifications.
Note: This position does not include health insurance or other standard employee benefits.
Task Description (Wet Lab Focus):
- Bacteriophage Management: Isolate, purify, and characterize bacteriophages from environmental/clinical samples. Maintain and manage the VISHC phage bank.
- Molecular Analysis: Perform molecular experiments to analyze host signaling pathways, phage genetic mechanisms, and gene expression changes during infection (e.g., qPCR, Western Blotting, cloning).
- Microbiology: Conduct plaque assays, efficiency of plating (EOP) tests, and timekill assays to determine phage lytic efficacy against target bacteria.
- Protocol Development: Develop and refine standard operating procedures (SOPs) for wet-lab experiments.
Requirements:
- Master’s degree or higher in Biotechnology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, or a related field.
- Minimum 1 year of hands-on experience working in a BSL-2 laboratory.
- Strong skills in microbial culture, phage purification, and DNA/RNA extraction.
- Proficiency in core molecular biology techniques (qPCR, gel electrophoresis); experience with protein analysis is a strong asset.
- Strong English communication skills; an IELTS score ≥ 6.5 is an asset but not a mandatory requirement; (≥ 7.5 candidates will be strongly considered for VISHC PhD scholarship tracks).
- Willingness to commit to the project for at least 6 – 12 months.
How to Apply:
Please submit the following documents in English:
- CV (including contact details of 2 – 3 reference contacts),
- Academic transcripts,
- A detailed motivation letter explaining your specific experience in AI/ML for biological data; or your laboratory experience, specific technical skills, and commitment to the project.
Send your application to hien.ntt@vinuni.edu.vn.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis every three months until January 2027.
Volunteering and Mentorship Opportunity:
If you are interested in a short-term volunteer commitment, please send your CV & motivation letter to Dr. Hien directly for guidance. We are always eager to mentor highly motivated individuals who wish to develop their careers in this or relevant research area.