Research Specialist II

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The referenced pay range represents the minimum and maximum compensation for this job. Individual annual salaries/hourly rates will be set within the job's compensation range, and will be determined by considering factors including, but not limited to, market data, education, experience, qualifications, expertise of the individual, and internal equity considerations.

Responsibilities:

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Serve as lab manager for a Principal Investigator in the Department of Environmental Medicine. Work independently with only occasional suggestions to modify, vary or adapt standard laboratory procedures to perform research related activities to meet the specialized needs of the research projects of the Principal Investigator. Supervise other members of the laboratory, including junior technical staff, graduate students, undergraduates and work-study personnel (15%). Analyze and interpret acquired data, including appropriate statistical analyses; prepare data summaries reports, including tables and figures and make recommendations for future studies (15%).  Assist Principal Investigator with writing grants and manuscripts for publication, including reading and interpreting primary scientific literature and preparing written summaries of this material (10%).  Strict adherence to written SOPs is required; as is detailed, daily record keeping.
• Laboratory activities –Experimental:  In addition to other related duties, the Technical Associate will be responsible for the following: (1) supervise the preparation and administering of reagents to animal subjects by lab personnel (oral, s.c., i.m., i.v., i.p., or inhalation); (2) oversee animal handling and management by lab personnel for the collection of tissue samples; (3) tissue removal and dissection from animals, (4) tissue preparation for various methods including RNA isolation, immunohistochemical and cytochemical analyses, biochemical and molecular biology assays; (4) work closely with the Principal Investigator in establishing genetic and epigenetic assays to be utilized by all laboratory staff.
• Laboratory activities – General:  Ensure laboratory’s maintenance of computer records for laboratory supplies, animals and equipment are kept up-to-date; ensure maintenance of chemical inventory is up-to-date and is in compliance with guidelines set by Environmental Health & Safety; interact with sales representatives on behalf of Principal Investigator; provide oversight and record keeping for hazardous waste disposal. Ensure that all laboratory staff are in compliance with Federal, State, and University regulations for use of laboratory animals and radioactivity, general laboratory health and safety.
• Animal Care: Oversee and maintain rodent colonies. Duties will include ordering and breeding of rodents for laboratory use, ensuring maintenance is compliant with DLAM and UCAR, prepare and maintain UCAR paperwork.
• Assists in writing approved laboratory protocols and SOPs for research; develops and modifies test methods, selects procedures for data collection and handling; works with UCAR, USDA, veterinary staff, AAALAC URMC Pharmacy; prepares for and hosts laboratory inspections.
• Responsible for ensuring laboratory’s maintenance of computer records for laboratory supplies, animals, and equipment are kept up-to-date; ensures maintenance of chemical inventory is up-to-date and is in compliance with guidelines set by Environmental Health & Safety.  Oversees and maintains records for hazardous waste disposal. Ensures that all laboratory staff are in compliance with Federal, State, and University regulations for use of laboratory animals and radioactivity, and general laboratory health and safety.
• Other duties as assigned

MINIMUM EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree and 2 years related work experience involving direct assistance to researchers required
• Master's degree and experience with tissue culture, primary culture, and/or animal handling preferred
• Or equivalent combination of education and experience

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Ability to troubleshoot and repair equipment as needed required
• Demonstrated mathematical skills including basic algebra and the ability to use scientific notation preferred. 
• Excellent organizational skills, communication skills, ability to use common sense, and demonstrate attention to detail. Knowledge of and experience with Microsoft Office software including Powerpoint, Excel, and Word preferred.
• Operational understanding of complex laboratory equipment, including pyrosequencer and experiential knowledge of the workings of a research laboratory, including general knowledge of genetics, biochemistry, microbiology, and molecular biology methods. Microscopy skills are beneficial preferred.
• Prior experience in managing an academic research laboratory and handling research animals, tissue culture, molecular and cell biology methodology and/or knowledge of immunologically-based techniques are desired preferred.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team and the capacity to design, organize, and analyze experimental data that serves as an invaluable tool in the publication of papers in scientific journals and obtaining future funding preferred.
• Must be able to work some evenings and weekends to conduct experiments preferred.
• Prior experience in next generation sequencing (including RNA sequencing library design and preparation for Illumina sequencing platforms), bioinformatics, and data handling, as well as experience in independent research in DNA methylation and bisulfite pyrosequencing preferred.

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