Consultant / Scientist: Molecular and Diagnostic Microbiology

P. Namperumalsamy Regional Research Center (PNRRC), Aravind Eye Hospital, Coimbatore

• Qualification: MD (Microbiology) or PhD (Microbiology).
• Experience: Hands-on experience in a diagnostic microbiology laboratory is essential. Appointment: Full-time.
• Designation (Consultant or Scientist) will depend on qualification and experience
• Salary: Commensurate with qualification and experience

The role

• Aravind Eye Hospital, Coimbatore, is looking for a microbiologist to lead its Molecular and Diagnostic Microbiology program at PNRRC. The position carries full responsibility for the diagnostic microbiology laboratory and for the molecular diagnostics research program.

Diagnostic service

• Run the diagnostic microbiology laboratory serving a high-volume tertiary eye hospital: microbial keratitis, endophthalmitis and ocular surface infections
• Maintain quality standards, standard operating procedures and turnaround times, and lead the laboratory towards accreditation
• Work closely with the cornea, retina and other clinical teams on result interpretation and difficult cases

Molecular diagnostics

• Lead the molecular diagnostics program, which currently includes CRISPR/Cas12a-based rapid pan-fungal detection, PCR-based pathogen identification and metagenomic sequencing on an in-house Nanopore platform
• Take assays from development through optimization, analytical validation and clinical validation, and into routine use where warranted
• Contribute to the design and conduct of the ICMR-funded multicentre program on molecular diagnosis of fungal endophthalmitis, and related work on infectious keratitis

Research and training

• Design, conduct and publish studies drawing on the hospital's large clinical specimen base
• Contribute to grant applications and external collaborations
• Supervise technical staff and postgraduate trainees

Essential

• MD (Microbiology) or PhD (Microbiology)
• Experience running, or working at a senior level in, a routine diagnostic microbiology laboratory
• Working knowledge of laboratory quality systems
• Ability to function as part of a clinical service and communicate with clinicians
• Demonstrated interest in research (publications, projects or grants)

Desirable

• Molecular diagnostic assay development and validation
• PCR, sequencing (including Nanopore metagenomics)

What Aravind offers

• A high-volume tertiary eye hospital: the laboratory receives approximately 1000 ocular specimens a year
• An established molecular laboratory with real-time PCR, a Nanopore sequencer, etc. and a team of 6 technical staff
• An ICMR-funded multicentre program in molecular diagnostics for endophthalmitis, with assay validation and metagenomic sequencing under way
• Daily working contact between clinicians and researchers, and a research group with a record of publication in ocular infection and molecular diagnostics
• Support for research proposals, conference presentation and postgraduate supervision
• How to apply
• Send the following to [HIDDEN TEXT] with the subject line Application: Molecular and Diagnostic Microbiology:
• Curriculum vitae, including a list of publications
• A one-page statement of research interests and relevant diagnostic laboratory experience
• Names and contact details of two referees