About the Opportunity
JOB SUMMARY
The Antibiotic Discovery Center (ADC) is seeking an experienced Associate Research Scientist to lead and expand efforts in natural product–based antibiotic discovery. The ideal candidate will manage multidisciplinary projects that integrate microbiology, biochemistry, and analytical chemistry to discover and characterize new natural product scaffolds and elucidate their biological activities.
QUALIFICATIONS
Ph.D. in Microbiology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, or related field.
Expertise in natural product discovery, purification, or bioassay-guided screening highly preferred.
Experience with analytical instrumentation (LC-MS, HPLC, NMR) and biological assay development highly preferred.
Strong leadership, communication, and team management skills.
Demonstrated ability to integrate multidisciplinary data to drive scientific discovery and innovation.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Lead discovery and characterization of novel natural products with antibacterial or other bioactive properties.
Direct and oversee bioassay development, screening, and hit validation efforts.
Manage compound isolation, purification, and structure elucidation workflows in collaboration with analytical and chemistry teams.
Conduct and supervise mechanistic studies to elucidate compound mode of action.
Provide scientific leadership and mentorship for junior researchers and technical staff.
Ensure rigorous data management, reproducibility, and compliance with safety standards.
Contribute to strategic planning, proposal writing, and publication of research findings.
The Antibiotic Discovery Center (ADC) at Northeastern University is an interdisciplinary research hub dedicated to discovering, characterizing, and developing novel antibiotics and bioactive natural products. The ADC integrates expertise in microbiology, biochemistry, chemical biology, and natural product chemistry to address the urgent global challenge of antimicrobial resistance. Researchers at the ADC work collaboratively to identify new compounds from diverse microbial sources, elucidate their mechanisms of action, and advance them toward preclinical development through innovative screening, analytical, and genomic approaches.
Position Type
ResearchAdditional Information
Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.
Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information.
All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
Compensation Grade/Pay Type:
109SExpected Hiring Range:
$67,855.00 - $95,845.00With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.
Skills Required
- Ph.D. in Microbiology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, or related field
- Expertise in natural product discovery, purification, or bioassay-guided screening
- Experience with analytical instrumentation (LC-MS, HPLC, NMR)
- Strong leadership, communication, and team management skills
- Demonstrated ability to integrate multidisciplinary data to drive scientific discovery
Northeastern University Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Northeastern University and has not been reviewed or approved by Northeastern University.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Paid time off is described as extensive, including 22–26 vacation days, 12 sick days, 13 holidays, and paid parental leave for birth/adoption. Additional paid leave is also outlined, including up to 26 weeks of paid medical leave and up to 12 weeks of paid family leave for eligible employees.
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Retirement Support — Retirement support is positioned as a standout, with an employer contribution described as 10% when an employee contributes 5%, alongside immediate vesting once eligible. This is presented as unusually generous relative to typical employer retirement offerings.
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Parental & Family Support — Family-oriented benefits are emphasized through tuition assistance for employees and dependents and access to backup childcare and family-care resources. Tuition remission/discount structures are highlighted as a major value driver, especially for employees with children and for long-tenured staff.
Northeastern University Insights
What We Do
Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university with a distinctive, experience-driven approach to education and discovery. The university is a leader in experiential learning, powered by the world’s most far-reaching cooperative education program. We integrate classroom study with opportunities for professional work, research, service, and global learning in more than 100 countries. The same spirit of collaboration guides a use-inspired research enterprise focused on solving global challenges in health, security, and sustainability. Northeastern offers a comprehensive array of undergraduate and graduate programs leading to degrees through the doctorate in nine colleges and schools, and select graduate programs at campuses in Boston, Charlotte, N.C., San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and Toronto. Campuses in Burlington, MA, and Nahant, MA, are home to research institutes for homeland security and coastal sustainability, respectively
