Assistant Scientist, Emory Primate Center (Lawrenceville, GA)
Kelly Ethun, DVM, PhD, DACLAM
Dedicated to discovering causes, preventions, treatments, and cures of disease, the Emory National Primate Research Center (EPC) is improving human and animal health and lives worldwide. One of seven NPRCs funded by the NIH, EPC conducts studies that make breakthrough discoveries possible. Learn more at http://enprc.emory.edu
Job Description:
The Nutritional and Reproductive Medicine Lab within the Emory National Primate Research Center at Emory University is currently seeking a full-time Assistant Academic Research Scientist, interested in nonhuman primate feeding, social, and breeding behavior. This position will contribute primarily to an NIH-funded study aimed to develop new methodology for social health surveillance and efficient reproductive management strategies for our specific pathogen-free rhesus macaque breeding colony. The successful candidate will work with an interdisciplinary research team of veterinary scientists, behaviorists, and data scientists. Using formal behavioral observational methods, this position will record and analyze feeding behavior as well as social and sexual dyadic interactions between nonhuman primates living in large outdoor enclosures at the EPC Field Station (Lawrenceville, GA). As such, the selected candidate should be able to conduct intensive behavioral observations (4+ hours per day, up to 4 days per week) in an outdoor setting and achieve inter-observer reliabilities on 2 social groups, each housing up to 80 adult monkeys. Primary job responsibilities will also include tasks related to data management, statistical analysis, and scientific writing; thus, this position is a great opportunity for early career scientists. The ideal candidate will be highly motivated, detail-oriented, able to work independently, and have a positive attitude and passion for research. The Nutritional and Reproductive Medicine Lab is led by Dr. Kelly Ethun, DVM, Ph.D., DACLAM.
Collaborate. Innovate. Serve. These three simple words capture what we do at EPC to help advance science and improve the health and well-being of humans and non-human primates. If you are someone with prior animal experience with an interest in nonhuman primate feeding behavior and/or social group management, this is an amazing opportunity for you to make a positive impact on the physical and social health of captive nonhuman primates bred for biomedical research.
Minimum Requirements:
- Ph.D. or MD
- Master’s degree and five years of professional level experience in a technical or research lab. Internship experience or experience prior to attaining the qualifying degree is not considered eligible work experience for this job classification. Laboratory experience will be based on area of assignment.
- NOTE: Applicants applying with a M.D. or equivalent degree must be eligible for a Georgia medical license to meet the minimum qualifications.
Preferred/Desired Qualifications:
- Prior experience with data analytical programs such as R/RStudio, Stata, SPSS, or SAS/JMP.
- Demonstrated proficiency with R and python programming
- Prior experience with PostgreSQL, MySQL, or other relational database management systems.
- Experience utilizing formal behavioral observation methods and techniques to monitor and record social and breeding behavior of nonhuman primates or other highly social animals living in large groups.
- Applied knowledge of the principles and practices of animal behavioral observation and data collection.
- Skills to use handheld electronic devices to collect behavioral data.
- Accustomed to working outdoors.
- Prior experience following research protocols with attention to detail.
- Independent thinking and problem-solving skills for research and technical problems.
- Excellent interpersonal and written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to act with integrity and professionalism.
Working Environment:
- On-site work hours are Monday-Friday 7:30 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.
- Perform diversified tasks that may require squatting, kneeling, bending, stooping, or standing up to 8 hours per day
- Work in areas where hazardous materials and/or infectious diseases are present.
- Wear protective clothing for extended periods of time including gloves, masks, face shields, goggles, sleeves, and head covers.
- Work environment involves being outdoors and employees may be required to perform behavioral observations during high ambient temperatures (under shade coverage).