R2026106620 Student Researcher

About the role

The Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology is seeking an undergraduate student researcher to assist with a project investigating the microbiome and virome of captive Jamaican fruit bats (Artibeus jamaicensis). The student will gain hands-on research experience spanning both wet-laboratory microbiology and computational biology.

Responsibilities

• Process rectal swab and guano samples for microbiome and metagenomic analyses.
• Perform DNA extractions and assist with PCR and preparation of samples for sequencing. The project will use bacterial/archaeal 16S rRNA V4 amplicon sequencing as well as shotgun metagenomic sequencing.
• Assist with laboratory workflows for viral enrichment and extraction from selected samples.
• Maintain organized laboratory records, sample metadata, and research files.
• Perform quality control and processing of DNA sequencing data.
• Use Linux-based bioinformatics tools to analyze microbial sequencing datasets.
• Assist with 16S rRNA microbiome analysis using QIIME 2, including taxonomic classification and alpha- and beta-diversity analyses.
• Assist with shotgun metagenomic analyses, including sequence quality control, assembly, microbial genome reconstruction, taxonomic classification, and functional annotation.
• Assist with visualization, statistical analysis, and interpretation of microbiome and genomic data.
• Participate in regular research meetings and communicate research progress.
• Contribute to preparation of figures, presentations, and other research outputs as appropriate.

Requirements

• Current CSU undergraduate student in microbiology, biology, biochemistry, biomedical sciences, computer science, or a related field.
• Interest in microbiology, microbial ecology, genomics, and/or bioinformatics.
• Ability to follow laboratory protocols and maintain accurate research records.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently after training and collaboratively as part of a research team.
• Willingness to learn both wet-laboratory and computational research methods.
• Ability to commit approximately 8-10 hours per week.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous coursework or laboratory experience in microbiology, molecular biology, genetics, or a related discipline.
• Experience with basic molecular biology techniques, such as DNA extraction, PCR, or gel electrophoresis.
• Familiarity with Linux/Unix command-line environments.
• Previous exposure to R, Python, or another programming language.
• Coursework or experience in bioinformatics, genomics, or microbial ecology.
• Interest in pursuing graduate school or a research-oriented career.

Schedule

Approximately 10-20 hours per week, with scheduling flexibility around the student’s course schedule. Anticipated start date: August 17, 2026.