Research Professional 4 - Biophysics - Prof. Alptekin Aksan

University of Minnesota; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 73,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive wages & benefits

Tuition benefits

Diversity & inclusion programs

Job summary

The University of Minnesota invites applications for a one-year, full-time position in the Mechanical Engineering department, conducting membrane permeabilization experiments and associated SOP development. The role is in-person at UMN - TC, East Bank and includes leadership of protocol execution and data reporting.

The ideal candidate has strong cell culture, SOP-building, and cross-site collaboration skills, with a track record of thorough documentation and communication with the PI and

Qualifications

• BA/BS in biomedical engineering, biology, biochemistry, chemistry, materials science, pharmaceutical formulation development or a related field plus at least five years of relevant experience or a combination of education and relevant work experience to equal at least nine years.
• Hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture, and cell-viability assessment techniques.
• Ability to follow, write, and maintain detailed SOPs and laboratory records.
• Strong organizational skills and reliability in meeting a structured schedule of deliverables.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills for cross-site collaboration and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Lead experiments and adopt reversible membrane permeabilization technology.
• Completing training to master protocols for reversible membrane permeabilization.
• Perform installation, calibration, characterization, and validation of membrane permeabilization systems.
• Establish parameters to ensure consistent, high-efficiency intracellular delivery of cryoprotectant agents; troubleshoot as needed.
• Prepare SOPs and coordinate with other collaborating sites to ensure uniformity of results.
• Train other lab staff in the adopted technology.
• Conduct physicochemical characterization & cryopreservation experiments using DSC and FTIR SOPs.
• Characterize the physical states, glass transition behaviors, and aging characteristics of cryoprotectant cocktails.
• Develop freeze/thaw protocols for different cryoprotectant cocktails and prepare SOPs while coordinating adoption.
• Perform post-thaw viability analyses and report results to PI and collaborators.

Skills

Cell culture experience

SOP development

Lab coordination

Written and verbal communication

Education

BA/BS in biomedical engineering or related field

Tools

None

Job description

About the Job

This is a one-year full-time short-term position. It is possiblethis position might be extended for a second year depending onsatisfactory performance, the availability of funds and/or work forthe position, and meeting standard University employmentrequirements. This position is not eligible for H-1B visa sponsorship.

Work Environment

In-person

Location

UMN - TC, East Bank

Schedule

• Monday - Friday
• 8:00am - 4:30pm
• 40 hours per week

Duties/Responsibilities

Conduct experiments (70%)

• Lead reversible membrane permeabilization technology adoptionby
• Completing training to master protocols for reversible membranepermeabilization.
• Performing installation, calibration, characterization, andvalidation of membrane permeabilization systems.
• Establishing parameters to ensure consistent, high-efficiencyintracellular delivery of cryoprotectant agents; troubleshoot asneeded.
• Preparing SOPs for the technology and coordinating with othercollaborating sites to ensure and document uniformity ofresults
• Training other staff in the lab on the adopted technology
• Conducting physicochemical characterization &cryopreservation experiments by Leading the preparation anddistribution of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) forcharacterization of frozen and desiccated cryoprotectant agents byDifferential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier-TransformInfrared Spectroscopy (FTIR).
• Characterizing the physical states, glass transition behaviors,and aging characteristics of cryoprotectant cocktails (with andwithout cells) during storage and documenting the findings in theform of reports and presentations
• Developing freeze/thaw protocols for different cryoprotectantcocktails and preparing SOPs while coordinating adoption with othercollaborating sites
• Performing post-thaw viability analyses of cryopreserved cells,documenting, reporting and communicating the results of theseexperiments to the PI and other collaborating sites.
• Conducting desiccation & room-temperature stabilizationexperiments by
• Constructing innate and formulation-stabilized room-temperaturedesiccation survival curves for multiple cell lines
• Desiccating cells to defined residual water contents andassessing viability after ambient (22C) storage using establishedfluorescence based viability dyes in coordination with otherparticipating sites
• Characterizing the physical states, glass transition behaviors,and aging characteristics of cryoprotectant cocktails (with andwithout cells) during storage using established protocols
• Training other lab group members on the SOPs to be followed forthis work

Coordination, reporting & documentation. (25%)

• Leading generation of project management tools, including Ganttcharts, preparing and presenting regular progress updates to thePI, collaborators, and the funder, establish protocols for sharingand storing of metadata, and lead troubleshooting efforts forresolving technical bottlenecks with collaborating sites.
• Leading documenting of the experimental logs, details, meetinglogs, quarterly summaries, validation reports, and monthly progressreports tied to defined deliverables and milestones.
• Lead presentation of the progress reports to other sites, ifneeded, in person, representing the work conducted in the lab

Training of other lab staff in experimental work. (5%)

Qualifications

Required qualifications:

• BA/BS in biomedical engineering, biology, biochemistry,chemistry, materials science, pharmaceutical formulationdevelopment or a related field plus at least five years of relevantexperience or a combination of education and relevant workexperience to equal at least nine years.
• Hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture, andcell-viability assessment techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to follow, write, and maintain detailedSOPs and laboratory records.
• Strong organizational skills and reliability in meeting astructured schedule of deliverables.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills for cross-sitecollaboration and reporting.

Preferred qualifications:

• Ph.D. in biomedical engineering, biology, biochemistry,chemistry, materials science, pharmaceutical formulationdevelopment or a related field (or an equivalent combination ofeducation and relevant laboratory experience).
• Experience with cryopreservation, vitrification,lyophilization, and/or desiccation-based cell stabilization.
• Experience with thermal and spectroscopic characterizationtechniques, particularly DSC and FTIR.
• Experience with intracellular delivery methods (e.g.,electroporation or comparable microfluidic porationplatforms).
• Understanding the physicochemical characterization of amorphousand glassy matrices.

About the Department

The Department of Mechanical Engineering has an internationallyrecognized faculty, and is part of the College of Science andEngineering, the highly interdisciplinary college of engineering,physical sciences, and mathematics.

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range: $34.82 - $38.47 per hour; depending oneducation/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type : Civil-Service & Non-Faculty LaborRepresented Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional trainingand degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee TransitPass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metroarea

While our salary ranges provide a framework, it is important tonote that most of the time, the initial pay may not reach the maximum of the range. Thisapproach ensures that compensation reflects the value and unique contributions ofeach candidate while maintaining equity within our organization. As part of ourcommitment to fair and equitable compensation, please be aware that the salary offered toincoming candidates will be based on their individual credentials and experience.

Diversity

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversityand inclusion in enriching the employment experience of itsemployees and in supporting the academic mission. The University iscommitted to attracting and retaining employees with varyingidentities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to andopportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment withoutregard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender,age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteranstatus, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Employment Requirements

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successfulcompletion of a background check. Our presumption is thatprospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminalconvictions do not automatically disqualify finalists fromemployment.

About University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among thelargest public research universities in the country, offeringundergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude ofopportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of oneof the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities,students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit fromextensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers,international corporations, government agencies, and arts,nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized byForbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employerfor Women (2023, 2025, 2026), and Best Employer by State(2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence &Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-lifeflexibility.