Research Lab Specialist Senior/Intermediate

Michigan Medicine; Ann Arbor (MI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent medical, dental and vision

2:1 retirement match

Job summary

Michigan Medicine is seeking a Research Laboratory Specialist (Animal Model Generation Technician) to support cardiovascular and regenerative medicine research. You will generate, breed, and characterize mouse models, coordinate in vivo experiments, and contribute to data and publications in a collaborative environment.

The role emphasizes handling complex genetic models, validating phenotypes, and coordinating across investigators. Strong hands-on experience with mouse models is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in biology or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Hands-on experience with laboratory animal research, particularly mouse models.
• Expertise in animal model generation and colony management.
• Strong mouse genotyping, breeding, tissue collection, and experimental planning.
• Ability to independently perform technically demanding animal procedures and troubleshoot.

Responsibilities

• Generate, breed, maintain, and characterize genetically modified mouse models for cardiovascular research.
• Coordinate and perform animal experiments, including genotyping, colony management, tissue collection, and phenotypic characterization.
• Establish and optimize animal models of cardiovascular disease, including aneurysm, ischemia, vascular disease, cardiac injury, and tissue repair.
• Develop and troubleshoot strategies for generating complex or technically challenging animal models, including conditional and tissue-specific knockout models.
• Support the generation and characterization of ACSS2 knockout aneurysm models and other genetically modified models as needed.
• Perform and assist with in-vivo procedures and physiological/phenotypic assessments in accordance with approved animal protocols.
• Collect, process, and preserve tissues and biological samples for histology, molecular biology, imaging, transcriptomic, and other downstream analyses.
• Maintain accurate and comprehensive records of animal colonies, experimental procedures, genotypes, and experimental outcomes.
• Collaborate closely with multiple investigators and research teams to coordinate animal studies and meet project milestones.
• Assist with the development and optimization of new animal-model approaches and experimental protocols.
• Contribute to data analysis, interpretation, presentations, manuscripts, and grant applications as appropriate.
• Ensure compliance with institutional, IACUC, and applicable regulatory requirements for animal research.

Skills

Animal model generation

Mouse genotyping

Breeding strategies

Experimental planning

Independent work

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in biology or related field

Job description

Mission Statement

Michigan Medicine improves the health of patients, populations and communities through excellence in education, patient care, community service, research and technology development, and through leadership activities in Michigan, nationally and internationally. Our mission is guided by our Strategic Principles and has three critical components; patient care, education and research that together enhance our contribution to society.

Job Summary

The Department of Cardiac Surgery is seeking a highly motivated and technically skilled Research Laboratory Specialist (Animal Model Generation Technician) to support cardiovascular and regenerative medicine research in a collaborative, multidisciplinary research environment. The successful candidate will have strong hands‑on expertise in the generation, breeding, and characterization of laboratory animal models, with particular emphasis on genetically modified mouse models and cardiovascular disease models.

This position will play a critical role in strengthening our laboratory's in vivo research capacity and supporting collaborative projects across multiple investigators. The technician will work closely with the principal investigator and collaborating laboratories to develop and maintain robust animal models, execute in‑vivo experiments, and generate high‑quality, reproducible data.

Position Highlights Include

• Lead technical expertise in animal model generation and optimization.
• Support both independent laboratory projects and collaborative multi‑investigator studies.
• Work on innovative models of cardiovascular disease and tissue repair.
• Develop technically challenging genetically modified mouse models.
• Opportunity to contribute to publications, presentations, and externally funded research.
• Collaborate with investigators across cardiovascular science, regenerative medicine, and biomedical engineering.

Responsibilities

• Generate, breed, maintain, and characterize genetically modified mouse models for cardiovascular research.
• Coordinate and perform animal experiments, including genotyping, colony management, tissue collection, and phenotypic characterization.
• Establish and optimize animal models of cardiovascular disease, including models relevant to aneurysm, ischemia, vascular disease, cardiac injury, and tissue repair.
• Develop and troubleshoot strategies for generating complex or technically challenging animal models, including conditional and tissue‑specific knockout models.
• Support the generation and characterization of ACSS2 knockout aneurysm models and other genetically modified models as needed.
• Perform and assist with in‑vivo procedures and physiological/phenotypic assessments in accordance with approved animal protocols.
• Collect, process, and preserve tissues and biological samples for histology, molecular biology, imaging, transcriptomic, and other downstream analyses.
• Maintain accurate and comprehensive records of animal colonies, experimental procedures, genotypes, and experimental outcomes.
• Collaborate closely with multiple investigators and research teams to coordinate animal studies and meet project milestones.
• Assist with the development and optimization of new animal‑model approaches and experimental protocols.
• Contribute to data analysis, interpretation, presentations, manuscripts, and grant applications as appropriate.
• Ensure compliance with institutional, IACUC, and applicable regulatory requirements for animal research.
• Perform other department and miscellaneous duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in biology, biomedical sciences, animal science, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Substantial hands‑on experience with laboratory animal research, particularly mouse models.
• Demonstrated expertise in animal model generation and colony management.
• Strong experience with mouse genotyping, breeding strategies, tissue collection, and experimental planning.
• Ability to independently perform technically demanding animal procedures and troubleshoot experimental challenges.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with multiple investigators and research teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Desired Qualifications

• Extensive experience generating and characterizing genetically modified mouse models.
• Experience with conditional, inducible, tissue‑specific, or compound knockout models.
• Experience with cardiovascular disease models, particularly aneurysm, ischemia, vascular injury, or cardiac injury models.
• Experience with surgical or microsurgical procedures in mice.
• Experience with cardiovascular phenotyping, tissue imaging, histology, or molecular analysis.
• Experience coordinating animal studies across multiple laboratories or collaborative research programs.
• Demonstrated ability to develop new animal models and troubleshoot difficult or low‑efficiency breeding or experimental strategies.

Why Join Michigan Medicine?

Michigan Medicine is one of the largest health care complexes in the world and has been the site of many groundbreaking medical and technological advancements since the opening of the U-M Medical School in 1850. Michigan Medicine is comprised of over 30,000 employees and our vision is to attract, inspire, and develop outstanding people in medicine, sciences, and healthcare to become one of the world’s most distinguished academic health systems. In some way, great or small, every person here helps to advance this world‑class institution. Work at Michigan Medicine and become a victor for the greater good.

What Benefits can you Look Forward to?

• Excellent medical, dental and vision coverage effective on your very first day
• 2:1 Match on retirement savings

Work Locations

The position will be part of a highly collaborative cardiovascular research program involving investigators with complementary expertise in cardiovascular biology, regenerative medicine, metabolism, and biomedical engineering. The technician will have the opportunity to work across multiple research projects and contribute directly to studies aimed at understanding mechanisms of cardiovascular disease and developing new approaches for tissue repair and regeneration.

The ideal candidate will be someone who is technically strong, resourceful, and comfortable taking ownership of challenging animal‑model projects, while also being an effective collaborator. Because animal‑model generation is a major bottleneck for several ongoing research programs, this position will have substantial responsibility and the potential to make a significant impact on multiple projects.

Underfill Statement

This position may be underfilled at a lower classification depending on the qualifications of the selected candidate.

Background Screening

Michigan Medicine conducts background screening and pre‑employment drug testing on job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent job offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background screenings. Background screenings are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Report Act. Pre‑employment drug testing applies to all selected candidates, including new or additional faculty and staff appointments, as well as transfers from other U-M campuses.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.