Faculty Research Assistant/Research Associate: Veterinary Biomedical Sciences

Important Notifications

Application Deadline: When applying, please keep in mind this posting will close at 11:59 pm the night before the posted "end date". Applications MUST be submitted prior to this deadline.

Current Employees: Do not apply via the OSU Career site. Instead, please login to your regular Workday account and visit the Jobs Hub to apply.

Department: Veterinary Biomedical Sciences

• Special Instructions to Applicants:

When applying you will be required to attach the following electronic documents:

• A resume/CV; and
• A cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position.
• Statement of Research (please attach as a separate document)
• Publications (For Research Associate position only - please attach as a separate document): provide copies of publications that demonstrate expertise relevant to this position. For each publication, briefly describe your contribution to the work and explain its relevance to the position.
• Supplemental Questions (please attach as a separate document):

a) Describe your understanding of the antisense oligonucleotide field. What do you consider the major barriers to progress in this field?

b) Describe a research project you have worked on that is most relevant to this position. What was your specific contribution, what challenges did you encounter, and what did you learn from the experience?

Starting salary will be commensurate with skills, education, and experience.

For additional information please contact: Dr. Hong Moulton

Job Summary

The Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences in the Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine invites applications for two (2) full-time (1.00 FTE), 12-month, fixed-term Faculty Research Assistant or Research Associate positions. Reappointment is at the discretion of the Department Head.

Join the laboratory of Dr. Hong Moulton in the Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences within the Gary R. Carlson, MD, College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University to help advance the therapeutic potential of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs). A Faculty Research Assistant (FRA) or Research Associate (RA) position in nucleic acid therapeutics and drug delivery is available immediately. We seek a highly motivated researcher to join a multidisciplinary team developing next-generation delivery technologies for genetic and infectious diseases.

Research in the laboratory addresses a central challenge in oligonucleotide therapeutics: achieving efficient, tissue-specific delivery. The successful candidate will design, synthesize, purify, and characterize Morpholino oligonucleotide conjugates incorporating tissue-targeting peptides, antibodies, lipids, and other delivery molecules, contributing to the development of delivery systems with potential therapeutic applications.

The position offers the opportunity to build multidisciplinary research experience at the intersection of bioconjugation chemistry, analytical chemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, and pharmacology. Working closely with academic and industry collaborators, the successful candidate will contribute to translational research programs supported by federal, biopharma, and private funding.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, synthesize, and characterize peptide-, antibody-, and lipid-conjugated oligonucleotide delivery systems.
• Develop and apply bioanalytical methods to quantify Morpholino antisense oligonucleotides in biological samples and animal tissues.
• Conduct cellular and animal studies to evaluate delivery efficiency, biodistribution, pharmacokinetics, and therapeutic activity.
• Investigate mechanisms governing cellular uptake, intracellular trafficking, and target engagement of oligonucleotide therapeutics.
• Contribute to the development of delivery-enabled Morpholino therapeutics for genetic and infectious diseases, including spinal muscular atrophy, primary ciliary dyskinesia, Powassan virus infection, Nipah virus infection, and beta-coronavirus diseases.
• Collaborate with academic and industry partners to advance translational drug-delivery research programs.
• Prepare manuscripts, technical reports, presentations, and grant applications.

FRA-specific requirements

• Faculty Research Assistant (FRA): An M.S. or B.S. in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Analytical Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bioengineering, or a closely related field, and more than four years of relevant laboratory research experience.

RA-specific requirements

• Research Associate (RA): A Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Analytical Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bioengineering, or a closely related field.
• A demonstrated record of research productivity, as evidenced by peer-reviewed publications.

Requirements for both FRA and RA appointments

• Demonstrated reliability, integrity, initiative, and a constructive approach to collaborative research.
• Experience in two or more of the following areas:
• Bioconjugation chemistry
• Liquid chromatography purification methods and instrumentation
• Nucleic acid therapeutics
• Drug delivery
• Pharmacokinetics and bioanalytical method development
• Cell culture and imaging techniques
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Antisense oligonucleotides, Morpholino oligonucleotides (PMOs), Peptide-PMO conjugates, Antibody-PMO conjugates, 2'-OMe, 2'-MOE, LNA, PNA, siRNA, or mRNA therapeutics
• HPLC or FPLC purification method development
• HPLC or FPLC instrumentation and troubleshooting
• Conjugation of peptides, proteins, lipids, or antibodies to macromolecules
• Bioanalytical assay development for analyzing drug concentrations in tissues and plasma
• LC-MS/MS, flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, or other cellular imaging techniques
• Pharmacology, toxicology and preclinical therapeutic evaluation in animal models

Working Conditions/Schedule

• Work is performed primarily in a laboratory and office environment.
• The position requires compliance with laboratory safety procedures and use of appropriate personal protective equipment.
• Occasional evening or weekend work may be required to support experiments, project deadlines, or conference travel.

Salary Range

Salary commensurate with skills, education, and experience.

Anticipated Start Date: 2026-11-20

Anticipated End Date: 2027-06-30

When applying, please keep in mind this posting will close at 11:59 pm the night before the posted "end date". Applications MUST be submitted prior to this deadline.

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