Microbiology Research Assistant

Microbiology & Lab Liaison Assistant

(Biofilm Research + Personal Care Assistant)

Location: Austin, TX (local preferred; some flexibility)

Schedule: Part-time, flexible

Priority Shift: 11 AM – 2, 3, or 4 PM (as agreed)

SXSW Attendance: Yes — attending SXSW at no cost

Ideal for: Undergraduate & graduate students, early-career researchers

Job Summary

We are seeking a Microbiology & Lab Liaison Assistant to support early-stage research for a reusable intermittent catheter system being developed from lived experience.

This is a dual-role position combining:

• A research-facing role requiring academic or lab experience in biology or microbiology
• A Personal Care Assistant (PCA) role, for which no prior caregiving experience is required (training provided)

This role is especially well-suited for students who want meaningful, real-world application of microbiology, public health, or laboratory science — while participating in a disability-led innovation environment that values ethics, proximity, and care.

Professional Role — EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Applicants must have coursework, lab experience, or research experience in one or more of the following and/or lab access:

• Biology, microbiology, public health, biomedical sciences, or related fields
• Academic lab environments or research projects
• Scientific documentation, data organization, or protocol support

Professional Responsibilities

Primary Objective:

Support preparation for biofilm and cleaning-cycle testing of a reusable medical device. Collecting data, testing etc.,

Exact Deliverables (Pre- and Post-SXSW):

• Assist in identifying and communicating with potential microbiology labs or academic partners
• Support organization of biofilm testing concepts and early protocols
• Help document research questions, constraints, and assumptions
• Translate lab or scientific language into accessible summaries

• Prepare materials that support:

• pilot studies

• grant applications
• future regulatory and clinical conversations

You will work alongside:

• Founder (lived-experience designer and project lead)
• Medical Device Prototype Engineer
• Regulatory Strategist (fractional)
• Future academic and clinical partners

Care Role — NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Training is provided for all care-related tasks.

Care responsibilities are brief, structured, and teachable.

• 10–15 minute catheterization assistance when directed
• Hygiene, toiletry support, stretching, and daily wellness tasks
• Calm, respectful presence during vulnerable moments
• Ability to move comfortably between research work, care, and quiet

Caregiving is a partnership, not a hierarchy.

SXSW Participation

You will:

• Attend South by Southwest (SXSW) at no cost if applicable

• Be included as part of the development and research team

• Gain exposure to:

• medical innovation

• disability-led design
• interdisciplinary research conversations
• Support storytelling and credibility around the research pathway

This is an educational and professional opportunity, not unpaid labor.

Who This Role Is Perfect For

• Undergraduate or graduate students in biology, microbiology, or public health
• Pre-med, nursing, or research-track students
• Lab assistants or research interns seeking applied experience
• Students curious about how science intersects with disability, ethics, and design

Compensation & Logistics

• Pay discussed during interview
• Flexible schedule aligned with academic commitments
• Optional overnight spotter shift: January 4–10 ($400 flat)
• Location: Austin, TX

Contact Information

If interested, please call or text directly to schedule a preliminary phone interview:

I do not have hand function. Please do not rely on messaging systems — direct communication is prioritized.

FINAL NOTE FOR ALL APPLICANTS

This is a queer-friendly, disability-led household and innovation environment.

I am an artist, musician, published screenwriter, nonprofit administrator, and inventor living fully in an injured body. I do not treat disability as tragedy or care as charity.

Care is not a side task here.

It is part of how we build science, technology, and culture correctly.

If you are curious, grounded, and willing to learn — you belong here.

Job Types: Part-time, Contract, Temporary

Pay: $ $80.00 per day

Expected hours: 4 – 12 per week

Work Location: In person