EBRC Positions

Associate Project Manager

Engineering Biology Research Consortium (EBRC) is seeking an (Associate) Project Manager to conduct science policy research and engagement for the advancement of engineering biology. The incumbent will work with EBRC academic and institutional members, members of EBRC’s Student & Postdoc Association, government stakeholders, and the engineering biology community on new and ongoing projects aligned with EBRC’s mission. The (Associate) Project Manager will support the EBRC staff leader for one of EBRC’s four Focus Areas (Research Roadmapping, Policy & International Engagement, Security, and Education and Workforce Development) and assist in directing and supporting a member-led Working Group to develop and achieve EBRC program objectives. Particularly in the focus area for which they are primarily responsible, the (Associate) Project Manager may help develop programs, activities, policy proposals, and communication materials that improve the ability of engineering biology researchers to advance and accelerate their work. Reporting to EBRC’s Executive Director, and working as a member of the EBRC Team, the Associate Project Manager may contribute to organizational goal setting, funding ideas and proposals, and supporting community engagement and outreach.

Recent and ongoing projects include:

Engineering Biology Metrics and Technical Standards for the Global Bioeconomy

Engineering Biology for Space Health: An Innovative Research Roadmap

Enabling Quality, Measurable Synthetic DNA Sequence Screening

Interested individuals can apply here (links to external hiring site). EBRC staff are hired and employed through a service agreement with BioMADE (https://www.biomade.org/). While EBRC operations and business services (including HR) are provided via BioMADE , EBRC is a separate, non-profit organization, with a distinct and unique mission. Hiring and employment decisions are at the discretion of EBRC leadership.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Work with the EBRC Executive Director and staff, EBRC members, and the engineering biology community to identify needs, challenges, and opportunities relevant to advancing engineering biology.

Support the lead staff for Focus Area(s) and Working Group(s); help support the Working Group (WG) chair and engage members to set goals and achieve objectives.

Help facilitate dialogue between government officials, researchers, and other stakeholders.

Support outreach and engagement initiatives to grow and strengthen the engineering biology community, including towards goals of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.

As appropriate, help develop proposals, programs, and activities that leverage member expertise to advance capacity and address challenges in engineering biology, particularly in the Focus Area(s) they are primarily supporting.

Help incorporate cross-disciplinary technical and non-technical topics (e.g. ethics, security, bioeconomy, training/education, regulation, diversity, equity, etc) critical to engineering biology into program activities.

Develop expert knowledge on trends in national and global research in engineering biology in support of organizational goals.

Develop and/or contribute to high-quality reports, research articles, white papers, proposals, or other materials on the state of the field and policy issues from various sectors, by independently conducting research and analysis, and/or by supporting and facilitating contributions from expert EBRC members.

Where appropriate, contribute to communication for activities and dissemination of EBRC reports and products; help develop briefing materials for US Government agencies and/or leadership.

Other duties as assigned or as they become apparent.

Requirements

PhD with 1 year experience, or Master’s Degree in a relevant field with 2-4 years’ experience in a social science or public policy-related field.

Demonstrated experience in science policy and the ability to work at the interface of research and government.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including experience writing for diverse audiences.

Demonstrable engagement on topics relevant to ethics, responsible conduct, and/or diversity, equity and inclusion.

Strong interpersonal skills and experience managing stakeholder relationships.

Experience working in an academic research laboratory and/or a demonstrated (technical or social sciences) research background and the requisite professional experiences to independently conduct research and publish.

Desired Characteristics

Strong project management and organization skills.

Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Experience working in a multi-disciplinary environment.

Strong understanding of modern information technology (Google Suite, Zoom, Adobe applications, etc.)

Experience, knowledge and/or expertise in one of the four Technical Themes (i.e., Data Science, Engineering DNA, Host Engineering, Biomolecular Engineering), and/or the five Application and Impact Sectors (i.e., Climate & Environment, Food & Agriculture, Energy, Health & Medicine, Industrial Biotech) described in EBRC’s Engineering Biology: A Research Roadmap for the Next-Generation Bioeconomy (2019).

About the Organization
EBRC is a non-profit, public-private partnership dedicated to bringing together an inclusive community committed to advancing engineering biology to address national and global needs. It showcases cutting- edge research in engineering biology, identifies pressing challenges and opportunities in research and application, and articulates compelling research roadmaps and programs to address these challenges and opportunities.

EBRC offers competitive salaries commensurate with experience, an annual bonus plan, and a comprehensive benefits package which includes medical, dental, vision insurance, a 401(k)-retirement plan with a 6% match, short- and long-term disability, basic and supplemental life insurance, PTO, and a generous holiday calendar.

Vaccination Requirements
Must be fully vaccinated; You are considered up to date with your vaccines if you have gotten all recommended COVID-19 vaccines, (two weeks after you get a second dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, or a second dose of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, or two weeks after you get a single dose of the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine), as well as Bivalent booster.

EOE Statement
EBRC recognizes the value of diversity in the scientific endeavor. We nurture merit, talent, and achievement by supporting equal opportunity and encouraging diversity and welcome people of all backgrounds and beliefs to join us in our mission.

EBRC and BioMADE are equal opportunity employers to all and make hiring and employment decisions without regard to age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Hybrid Work Statement
EBRC offers flexible (hybrid) work options based on business roles and needs.

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Science Policy Postdocs

Interest/applications reviewed on a rolling basis. Please see below for instructions.

The Engineering Biology Research Consortium (EBRC) is seeking postdoctoral scholars interested in science policy. Postdocs will leverage their previous training to work with EBRC programs and to conduct an individual research project.

EBRC is a non-profit, public-private partnership dedicated to bringing together an inclusive community committed to advancing engineering biology to address national and global needs. We showcase cutting-edge research in engineering biology, identify pressing challenges and opportunities in research and application, and articulate compelling research roadmaps and programs to address these challenges and opportunities.

Applications are being accepted for those with interest in engineering biology and related technical and policy influences and impacts, and those interested in any of our four focus areas: Technical Research Roadmapping, Security, Education & Workforce Development, and Policy & International Engagement. Applicants with particular knowledge, experience, and/or expertise in one of the five Application and Impact Sectors (i.e., Environment Biotechnology & Climate, Food & Agriculture, Energy, Health & Medicine, Industrial Biotechnology) and/or the four Technical Themes (i.e., Data Science, Engineering DNA, Host Engineering, Biomolecular Engineering) described in EBRC’s Engineering Biology: A Research Roadmap for the Next-Generation Bioeconomy (2019), are encouraged. Roughly 75% of the postdoc’s time will be dedicated to EBRC projects related to bioeconomy and/or in the focus areas (more detail below).

EBRC Focus Areas:

Technical Research Roadmapping: Working with EBRC’s Roadmapping Director, postdocs in this focus area will develop and curate technical content EBRC’s research roadmaps. A national-scale effort, postdocs will engage with the EBRC membership and other subject matter experts by facilitating interactions with the working group, executing workshops and working meetings, and performing independent literature research to ensure the best expertise is brought to bear in material development. Postdocs will gain experience in effective engagement and project management with the research community and focus on advancing research programs and opportunities across engineering biology.
Security & Engineering Biology: The postdoc will develop and deliver papers, briefings, and course materials on security and engineering biology. EBRC approaches this topic bidirectionally asking both how advances in engineering biology affect the security landscape and how changes in security policy can influence engineering biology research and development practices. The postdoc will engage with stakeholders ranging from undergraduates to senior government policy makers, so a strong ability to tailor communications to a specific audience is necessary for success. The postdoc will have the opportunity to interact with the national security and policy communities on issues relevant to engineering biology.
Education & Engagement: The postdoc will work closely with the Education working group and through independent research to understand and advance the engineering biology education landscape and workforce pipeline in the US, with a focus on increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion, and in coordination with the efforts of other organizations. Currently, EBRC is focused on developing projects, programs, and resources for students and educators to strengthen engineering biology curricula, interest, and engagement. The postdoc will also engage in a landscaping effort to understand the needs and challenges for the engineering biology workforce pipeline towards the potential development of a roadmap for engineering biology education and integration with the EBRC technical roadmaps for engineering biology.
Policy & International Engagement: The postdoc will work with the Policy & International Engagement working group on a wide range of topics not covered in the other three working groups. Efforts typically focus on US developments in the bioeconomy and how EBRC can effectively inform governmental decision making. This focus area is generally the focal point for preparing responses to formal RFIs. Internationally, EBRC is focused on understanding and engaging with the global bioeconomy, engineering biology strategies in different countries, and multinational governance like the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Postdocs will be an integral part of the EBRC Team and will have the opportunity to learn and make significant contributions during their appointment. In addition to the independent and focus area projects outlined above, postdocs will participate in EBRC core activities (annual meetings and retreats); contribute to EBRC cross-cutting efforts regarding bioeconomy advancement, responsible innovation, and diversity, equity, and inclusion; have opportunities for relevant training in science policy; and meet government officials and policymakers through EBRC events and, when possible, periodic trips to Washington, DC.

The EBRC Science Policy Postdoc is intended as a full time, one year appointment located in the San Francisco Bay Area. All EBRC postdocs will spend roughly 25% of their time working with India Hook-Barnard and senior staff on an agreed-upon individual science policy research project. Postdocs will develop their project based on a topic of interest and consistent with EBRC’s overall mission and strategic goals. Strong projects will leverage the postdoc’s technical background, their policy area of interest, and EBRC’s network and relationships in the engineering biology research community and throughout the US government.

Those interested are encouraged to send their CV and a Cover Letter as a single PDF to EBRC’s Executive Director India Hook-Barnard (ihb@ebrc.org) and copy postdoc@ebrc.org. In your cover letter, please indicate the focus area(s) of interest as well as initial ideas for your independent project. We review interest and applications for postdocs on a rolling basis.

Diversity statement: EBRC is interested in candidates who will contribute to diversity and equal opportunity in higher education and the engineering biology field through their work.

We offer competitive salaries commensurate with experience, as well as a comprehensive benefits package which includes medical, dental, vision insurance, 401(k)-retirement plan with a 6% match, short- and long-term disability, basic and supplemental life insurance, PTO, and a generous holiday calendar.

EBRC is an equal opportunity employer to all and makes hiring and employment decisions without regard to age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

EBRC Positions

Associate Project Manager

Science Policy Postdocs