Research Laboratory Manager

uchicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Groman Lab at the University of Chicago is seeking a process-driven Laboratory Manager to serve as the central operational hub for our research team. Investigating the neurobiological mechanisms of decision-making and addiction, the lab relies on seamless logistics, rigorous compliance, and clear organizational workflows.

The Lab Manager will play a pivotal role in keeping research projects on schedule, overseeing day‑to‑day operations, and supporting personnel through proactive

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field is required.
• Master's degree in Neuroscience, Biology, Psychology, Healthcare/Research Administration, or related field preferred.
• Minimum 2–5 years of work experience in lab management or related operations.

Responsibilities

• Oversees day-to-day lab operations and implements efficient procedures.
• Manages purchasing, inventory, vendor relations, and equipment maintenance schedules.
• Maintains regulatory compliance and readiness for inspections.
• Coordinates onboarding, safety training, and daily supervision of staff.
• Organizes lab documentation, data storage, and SOP updates.
• Supports vivarium/rodent-related activities and experiments as needed.

Skills

Organizational excellence

Project management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Master's degree (preferred)

Job description

Department

BSD ACC - Groman Lab

About the Department

The Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care (DACC) at the University of Chicago is committed to providing outstanding compassionate patient care, educating the next generation of physicians and scientists, generating leaders in scholarship, discovery, and innovation, and bringing out the best in all with whom we work. The DACC preclinical research group is committed to understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of drug addiction and identifying novel interventions and treatments for reducing addiction liability in humans.

As a core member of the DACC preclinical group, the Groman Lab integrates sophisticated behavioral paradigms with computational analyses, neuroimaging approaches, system-level manipulations, and molecular analyses to generate mechanistic links between genes and behavior to understand the pathology of addiction.

Job Summary

The Groman Lab at the University of Chicago is seeking a process-driven Laboratory Manager to serve as the central operational hub for our research team. Investigating the neurobiological mechanisms of decision‑making and addiction, our lab relies on seamless logistics, rigorous compliance, and clear organizational workflows. The Lab Manager will play a pivotal role in keeping research projects on schedule, overseeing day‑to‑day operations, and supporting personnel through proactive problem‑solving.

Responsibilities

• Oversees day‑to‑day administrative and physical operations of the laboratory space. Help to establish operational procedures and workflows to ensure success of lab operations.
• Manages laboratory purchasing, supply inventories, vendor relations, and equipment maintenance/repair schedules.
• Help with ensuring laboratory regulatory compliance with the expectation of becoming the primary operational lead for maintaining protocols, records, and inspection readiness.
• Coordinates lab‑wide schedules, onboarding logistics for new hires, and safety training verification, daily supervision and mentorship of researchers and lab staff.
• Organizes and maintains lab documentation and data storage and proactively updating operational protocols.
• Manage vivarium operations and colony management compliance and be willing to work with rodents and assist with experiments involving rats.
• Applies research principles and relevant subject matter knowledge relevant to administer a research project. With a moderate level of direction, manages lab and/or research‑related duties and tasks. Helps develop, design and conduct research projects according to plan.
• Supports data collection and analytical needs of research projects. Conducts literature reviews and helps write reports and manuscripts. Ensures project compliance with different policies, procedures, directives, and mandates.
• Takes responsibility for the following laboratory duties: recognizing abnormal results and varying conditions or procedures to correct problems; setting up and performing experiments. Analyze the meaning, significance, causes, and effects of the subject.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications

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Preferred Qualifications

Education

Master's degree in Neuroscience, Biology, Psychology, Business Administration, Healthcare/Research Administration, or a related field.

Experience

Minimum of 2+ years of full‑time experience in laboratory management, research administration, project coordination, or a closely related operational role.

Experience supervising administrative workflows, delegating daily duties to technicians/undergraduates, and organizing team schedules.

Preferred Competencies

• Exceptional organizational, time management, and planning skills, with a proven track record of managing multi‑faced logistics, supply procurement, and inventory systems.
• Formal training or demonstrated success in project management (e.g., developing SOPs, tracking project milestones, establishing data hygiene standards, or managing lab communication protocols).
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to coordinate schedules, enforce lab workflows, and delegate tasks across a multi‑tiered team (undergraduates, technicians, trainees, and PI).

Working Conditions

• Office Environment.
• Weekend or evening hours may be required but will be infrequent and scheduled in advance.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)
• Cover letter (preferred)

Job Family

Resea