[Coral-List] Job opportunities at Red Sea Research Center

[James Luyten]

The Red Sea Research Center at KAUST (rsrc.kaust.edu.sa) is seeking
qualified candidates for positions as Lab Manager, Lab Technician and Field
Technician.  We have active projects in Marine Microbiology, Coral Genomics,
Coral Reef Ecology, Biodiversity, Marine Ecology, and Fisheries Ecology in
the Red Sea.  Please reply to rsrc.director ‘at’ kaust.edu.sa with a
statement of interest and CV.   Information about KAUST can be found on the
general website (http://www.kaust.edu.sa).

Lab Manager: To manage genetics/microbiology research laboratory operations,
team management, maintaining research consumable supplies, and be able to
assist with faculty, staff, and student research projects, including
visiting scientists and researchers.
Major Responsibilities: Maintenance of lab environment and performing or
organizing equipment service; ordering of lab equipment and consumables to
ensure continuous operations, and to follow up with suppliers and
Procurement where needed; completion and submission of safety training and
all other administrative reports to relevant departments; to attend and/or
participate in Center meetings and individual lab meetings as requested; to
coordinate administrative duties for general Center technicians to ensure
smooth and continuous lab operations, including leave scheduling; to oversee
and coordinate the general daily operations of the lab including liaising
for scientists and researchers visiting the Center.
Competencies: Fluent in English, both spoken and written; excellent written
and verbal communication skills; experience writing formal and scientific
reports.
Qualifications: An undergraduate degree in biology, genetics, marine
biology, or related/relevant discipline. Undergraduate degree or higher in a
relevant discipline.
Minimum of 3 years’ experience working in a biological research laboratory
with preference for genetics or microbiology experience, with at least 1
year experience in team or major project management; preferably will have
experience with all or most of the following instruments, equipment, or
techniques: Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Quantitative Polymerase Chain
Reaction (qPCR), bioanalyzer, incubation chambers, fluorescence microscopes,
liquid handling robots, ultracentrifuge, liquid nitrogen handling, DNA
extraction and amplification, freeze dryers.

Lab Technician:  To assist with lab research as well as maintain diverse
research projects in collaboration with local & international scientists.
Some opportunity may exist for independent projects.
Major Responsibilities: Preparation of samples for laboratory analysis
and/or culture; preparation, optimization, and analyses of PCR reactions;
maintenance of lab environment and performance of minor equipment
maintenance; ordering of lab equipment and consumables to ensure continuous
operations, and to follow up with suppliers and Procurement where needed; to
attend and/or participate in Center meetings and individual lab meetings as
requested; to assist with general daily operations of the lab including
liaising for scientists and researchers visiting the Center; help oversee
students experiments in the lab if required by faculty; DNA isolation; RNA
isolation; PCR and cloning; operation of qPCR, bioanalyzer incubation
chambers, fluorescence and other microscopes, liquid handling robots,
ultracentrifuge, liquid nitrogen handling, freeze dryers, and
next-generation library preparation (Illumina and 454)
Competencies: Fluent in English, both spoken and written; excellent
communication skills; experience writing formal and scientific reports;
broad knowledge of tropical marine life / ecosystems as well as global
conservation issues; experience living/working abroad for prolonged periods..
Qualifications: Undergraduate degree in biology, genetics, marine biology,
or related/relevant discipline; minimum of 1 year of experience working in a
biological research laboratory with preference for genetics or microbiology
experience; experience living abroad; experience working in college or
university also an advantage; good understanding or fluency in Arabic an
advantage, but not required.

Field Technician: To assist with field research as well as maintain diverse
research projects in collaboration with local & international scientists.
Some opportunity may exist for independent projects.
Major Responsibilities: Preparation of samples for laboratory analysis,
including sample preservation and cataloging; sample collections in the
field; dissection and processing of field samples; maintenance of lab
environment and performance of minor equipment maintenance; ordering of
field equipment and consumables to ensure continuous operations, and to
follow up with suppliers and Procurement where needed; to manage inventory
of Center field gear; to attend and/or participate in Center meetings and
individual lab meetings as requested; to assist with general daily
operations of the lab including liaising for scientists and researchers
visiting the Center.
Competencies: An undergraduate degree in biology, genetics, marine biology,
or related/relevant discipline; minimum of 1 year of experience working in
or with a biological research laboratory; fluent in English, both spoken and
written; excellent written and verbal communication skills; experience
writing formal and scientific reports; minimum of 100 hours diving
experience (excluding training); minimum of SSI/PADI Rescue Diver
qualification (or equivalent); preferably will have experience with
histological preparations and analyses; preferably will have experience
handling boats in research operations; experience with underwater
collections using nets, handspears, or spearguns, otolith and gonad
preparation, liquid nitrogen handling, DNA extraction and amplification,
freeze dryers, seawater filtering, aquarium maintenance.

James R Luyten
Professor of Marine Science & Engineering
Director, Red Sea Research Center
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia