Lab Manager, Microbial ecology, Coastal sedimentary protists

University of Rhode Island; Kingston (RI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Environmental Microbial Ecology Laboratory at the University of Rhode Island seeks a Lab Manager to oversee day-to-day operations, lead hands-on training for students, and contribute to the development of laboratory technologies and protocols. You will manage research activities, maintain safety and data practices, and collaborate with the Principal Investigator to drive project progress.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree or higher in a life science field and at least two years of lab

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in microbiology, microbial ecology, marine science, or related life science.
• Minimum of two years of experience as a laboratory technician or research staff.
• Demonstrated experience in soil or sedimentary microbiology, microbiome identification, next‑generation sequencing, ecology and physiology of marine microeukaryotes.
• Demonstrated strong interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to organize, coordinate, and supervise research projects.
• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse groups and cross disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Maintain up-to-date laboratory notebooks, follow safe protocols, and keep the lab organized and efficient.
• Maintain inventory, place orders, and verify receipt of supplies.
• Maintain equipment performance and develop QA/QC procedures; arrange service and repairs.
• Ensure safety and biohazard controls in line with Good Laboratory Practices.
• Standardize protocols for sampling, culture maintenance, imaging, and sequencing.
• Assist in data management guidelines in coordination with the PI.
• Support day-to-day lab work and onboard new trainees with technical and safety training.
• Coordinate field sampling for time-series data collection.
• Contribute to new lab technologies and project objectives.
• Document results and methods for publications and grants.
• Provide updates to the PI on project progress.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Oral and written communication

Organizational skills

Project supervision

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher in microbiology, microbial ecology, marine science, or related life science

2+ years laboratory experience

Job description

The lab manager will oversee day-to-day operations of an environmental microbial ecology laboratory focused on the molecular and microscopic identification of unknown protists, particularly from marine sedimentary environments. The successful candidate will manage daily research activities, lead hands‑on training of students, and contribute to the development of laboratory technologies and protocols.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Maintain detailed up-to-date laboratory notebooks, utilize safe laboratory protocols, and keep the laboratory organized and in high-functioning condition.
• Maintain laboratory supplies inventory; anticipate needed supplies; place and expedite orders for supplies; verify receipt of supplies.
• Maintain laboratory equipment performance; develop operations, quality, and troubleshooting procedures; arrange equipment replacement, service, and repair.
• Maintain quality checks on safety of laboratory, including biohazards, gas tanks, and ensure maintenance of the facilities according to Good Laboratory Practices.
• Standardize and implement laboratory protocols for field sampling, microbial culture maintenance, microscopic imaging, and high-throughput sequencing (both short- and long-read platforms).
• Design and administer guidelines for data entry and data management in consultation with the principal investigator.
• Independently perform day‑to‑day laboratory work in conjunction with other lab personnel; help with new trainee onboarding by offering technical and safety trainings.
• Coordinate and perform field sampling for the establishment of time-series data.
• Contribute to the development of new lab technologies and to achieve project objectives in creative and effective ways.
• Document and report experimental results and methods for timely publication and grant applications.
• Work closely with the Principal Investigator to provide timely updates and report project progress.

QUALIFICATIONS

REQUIRED:

• 1. Bachelor’s degree or higher in microbiology, microbial ecology, marine science, or a related life science discipline.
• 2. Minimum of two years of experience as a laboratory technician or research staff.
• 3. Demonstrated experience in one or more of the following: soil or sedimentary microbiology, microbiome identification, next‑generation sequencing, ecology and physiology of marine microeukaryotes.
• 4. Demonstrated strong interpersonal skills.
• 5. Demonstrated oral and written communication skills.
• 6. Demonstrated ability to organize, coordinate, and supervise research projects .
• 7. Demonstrated ability to work with diverse groups and cross disciplines.

PREFERRED:

• 1. Demonstrated experience in preparing high‑throughput sequencing libraries with marine sedimentary samples and/or low-input DNA.
• 2. Demonstrated experience in bioinformatics analyses of microbiome data.
• 3. Demonstrated experience in protist genomics/transcriptomics.
• 4. Demonstrated experience in advanced microscopy.