Founded in 1987 by the late David Packard, MBARI is a nonprofit oceanographic research center advancing marine science and engineering to understand our changing ocean. Located in Moss Landing, California, the heart of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, MBARI offers ready access to the open ocean and deep sea. Ongoing research programs range across autonomous and remotely operated underwater vehicle systems, control technologies, ocean physics, chemistry, geology, biology, ocean instrumentation, and information management. MBARI hosts approximately 200 employees, with shore facilities that include state-of-the-art science and engineering laboratories, manufacturing and electrical fabrication shops, and dock facilities for MBARI vessels.

MBARI has a position open for a Biochemistry Research Technician, reporting to Senior Scientist Steve Haddock. Applicants with at least a Master’s degree are encouraged to apply. This position will include performing groundbreaking laboratory experiments on bioluminescence and physiology, and spending up to a week at sea during research cruises. The job activities will be very hands-on, with expertise required beyond brief classroom exposure to a variety of techniques. Candidates who bring diverse perspectives from non-traditional backgrounds will be welcomed.

Primary responsibilities:

• Design and conduct experiments on biochemistry and molecular biology
• Express, purify, and assay recombinant proteins
• Perform HPLC characterization of compounds obtained from marine animals
• Help organize, supply, and maintain a working molecular biology laboratory
• Assist in planning and staging ship-based expeditions, between 1 and 14 days long
• Mentor and collaborate with other scientists

Required qualifications:

• Master’s degree or higher 
• Biochemistry knowledge and experience working with proteins and biological compounds
• Familiar with PCR, and cloning and expression of proteins in bacteria and yeast
• Spectroscopy, absorbance, fluorescence, and multi-well plate reader measurements
• Ability to operate and maintain a UHPLC instrument

Desired qualifications:

• AAUS research scuba certification, or interest in obtaining it
• Protein gels and chromatography
• Knowledge of marine invertebrate zoology
• Data analysis, including R, python, and working in unix shell