Research Laboratory Manager

Biological Sciences Division at the University of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Chicago's Groman Lab is seeking a process-driven Laboratory Manager to serve as the central operational hub for our research team. This role supports drug addiction research through organizing workflows, ensuring compliance, and maintaining project schedules.

Responsibilities include managing purchasing, vendor relations, vivarium operations, and mentoring lab staff, with emphasis on data hygiene and SOP development. 40 hours/week, on-site in Chicago.

Qualifications

• Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
• Master’s degree in Neuroscience, Biology, Psychology, Business Administration, Healthcare/Research Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 2+ years of full-time experience in laboratory management, research administration, or closely related operational role.

Responsibilities

• Oversees day-to-day administrative and physical operations of the laboratory space and establishes operational procedures.
• Manages laboratory purchasing, supply inventories, vendor relations, and equipment maintenance schedules.
• Ensures regulatory compliance and maintains protocols, records, and inspection readiness.
• Coordinates lab-wide schedules, onboarding logistics for new hires, and safety training.
• Organizes and maintains lab documentation and data storage; updates operational protocols.

Skills

Organizational skills

Time management

Planning

Project management

SOP development

Data hygiene

Lab communication

Scheduling

Education

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

Bachelor’s degree in related field

Job description

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 of 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.

Department

BSD ACC - Groman Lab

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.

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.

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-faceted 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)

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

Job Family

Research

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Range

$60,000.00 - $80,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

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