Technical Officer or Senior Technical Officer (Temporary 24-Month Contract), Hamilton Institute & Department of Computer Science, Maynooth University

Maynooth University is committed to a strategy in which the primary University goals of excellent research and scholarship and outstanding education are interlinked and equally valued. 

We are seeking applications for a Technical Officer/Senior Technical Officer in the research group (https://dna.hamilton.ie/) of Professor Damien Woods at the Hamilton Institute. Our group is also affiliated with the Department of Computer Science. Our group works on the topics of DNA computing, DNA data storage and DNA nanostructures. 

EU and Irish national funding is provided by the DISCO project funded by the EIC Pathfinder Challenge programme (https://disco-tech.eu/), and the Active tiles project funded by Science Foundation Ireland Frontiers of the Future Programme (SFI FFP). 

The Technical Officer/Senior Technical Officer role requires a background in use of lab-based experimental techniques. Example techniques include, but are not limited to: atomic force microscopy (AFM), fluorescence microscopy, bulk fluorescence assays (using qPCR machine, or fluorescence plate reader), agarose /polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, etc. The role could involve use of other techniques including preparing samples via pipetting by hand, liquid handler and/or an acoustic liquid handler, and play a supporting role on several ongoing laboratory projects. We use python code to control lab equipment, so having familiarity with programming is a bonus, and at the very least there is expectation to be willing to learn how to program. Familiarity and competency with wet-lab procedures/techniques would be best, but other experimental research experience may also be considered as relevant. Mainly, the candidate needs to show an aptitude for lab-based experimental protocols and showing competence with lab equipment. 

In addition, the role will include some administrative duties, including managing a lab, ordering of supplies, instruction on safety procedures, routine equipment maintenance. There will be room to take a key role on experimental projects in DNA computing, DNA data storage and DNA self-assembly in collaboration with experienced group members, should the candidate demonstrate a willingness and competency to do so. Suitable candidates could be from an experimental physics, chemistry, molecular biology or bioengineering background, and should have an honours degree or equivalent relevant qualification, in Science, Engineering, Instrumentation or a related discipline. Useful assets include the ability to write code for taking and analysing data (e.g. experience with Python, Rust, C++, Java, R, Matlab or other programming languages for data analysis), an aptitude for and/or experience at quantitative thinking and data analysis, and willingness and enthusiasm to support cutting-edge research on molecular computing. 

The level of appointment and salary (i.e. whether “Senior” or not) will be in accordance with the experience and demonstrated abilities of the candidate. Please see https://www.dna.hamilton.ie/ for more details about the research group.