Research Specialist II

001 University of Rochester; Fort Dix (NJ); On-site; USD 37,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Rochester in Rochester, NY seeks a dedicated lab manager to lead the Susiarjo laboratory’s activities, supervise staff, and oversee experiments that study gene-environment interactions during pregnancy. You will train personnel, analyze data, and help ensure safety and recordkeeping standards.

The role requires a Bachelor's degree with 2 years of related experience; a Master’s degree or equivalent combination is preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; 2 years related research assistance experience.
• Master's degree and tissue culture/animal handling experience preferred.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience considered.

Responsibilities

• Supervise lab activities and plan experiments with staff.
• Train personnel in animal care and standard lab practices.
• Analyze data and prepare summaries with tables/figures.
• Assist with grant writing and manuscript preparation.
• Maintain detailed daily records and SOP adherence.
• Oversee hazardous waste disposal and safety compliance.

Skills

Lab management

Animal handling

Molecular biology

Data analysis

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Equivalent combination of education and experience

Tools

Pyrosequencer

Illumina sequencing

Laboratory equipment

Job description

As a community, the University of Rochester is defined by a deep commitment to Meliora - Ever Better. Embedded in that ideal are the values we share: equity, leadership, integrity, openness, respect, and accountability. Together, we will set the highest standards for how we treat each other to ensure our community is welcoming to all and is a place where all can thrive.

Job Details

Job Location (Full Address): 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, New York, United States of America, 14642 Opening: Worker Subtype: Regular Time Type: Full time Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40 Department: 400039 Environmental Medicine Work Shift: UR - Day (United States of America) Range: UR URG 109 H Compensation Range: $27.16 - $38.03 The referenced pay range represents the minimum and maximum compensation for this job. Individual annual salaries/hourly rates will be set within the job's compensation range, and will be determined by considering factors including, but not limited to, market data, education, experience, qualifications, expertise of the individual, and internal equity considerations.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct research and teaching support at the professional level by taking charge of a segment of research activities with moderate complexities in the Susiarjo laboratory.
• Responsible for conducting and analyzing experiments that comprise a coherent part of a larger project, which includes investigating gene-environment interactions during pregnancy and studying how exposures to endocrine disruptors modulates maternal and fetal health in mice; researching and resolving technical problems within the scope of those experiments.
• Supervise daily aspects of the lab, such as planning and participating in experiments with other laboratory personnel.
• Supervise and train all laboratory personnel on all aspects of animal care, maintenance, and standard laboratory practices.
• Handling and use of laboratory animals and chemicals will be required.
• Training in the safe handling of laboratory mice and chemicals is required and will be provided.

Essential Functions

• Serve as lab manager for a Principal Investigator in the Department of Environmental Medicine.
• Work independently with only occasional suggestions to modify, vary or adapt standard laboratory procedures to perform research related activities to meet the specialized needs of the research projects of the Principal Investigator.
• Supervise other members of the laboratory, including junior technical staff, graduate students, undergraduates and work-study personnel (15%).
• Analyze and interpret acquired data, including appropriate statistical analyses; prepare data summaries reports, including tables and figures and make recommendations for future studies (15%).
• Assist Principal Investigator with writing grants and manuscripts for publication, including reading and interpreting primary scientific literature and preparing written summaries of this material (10%).
• Strict adherence to written SOPs is required; as is detailed, daily record keeping.

Laboratory Activities – Experimental

• (1) supervise the preparation and administering of reagents to animal subjects by lab personnel (oral, s.c., i.m., i.v., i.p., or inhalation);
• (2) oversee animal handling and management by lab personnel for the collection of tissue samples;
• (3) tissue removal and dissection from animals,
• (4) tissue preparation for various methods including RNA isolation, immunohistochemical and cytochemical analyses, biochemical and molecular biology assays;
• (4) work closely with the Principal Investigator in establishing genetic and epigenetic assays to be utilized by all laboratory staff.

Laboratory Activities – General

• Ensure laboratory’s maintenance of computer records for laboratory supplies, animals and equipment are kept up-to-date; ensure maintenance of chemical inventory is up-to-date and is in compliance with guidelines set by Environmental Health & Safety; interact with sales representatives on behalf of Principal Investigator; provide oversight and record keeping for hazardous waste disposal.
• Ensure that all laboratory staff are in compliance with Federal, State, and University regulations for use of laboratory animals and radioactivity, general laboratory health and safety.

Animal Care

• Oversee and maintain rodent colonies.
• Duties will include ordering and breeding of rodents for laboratory use, ensuring maintenance is compliant with DLAM and UCAR, prepare and maintain UCAR paperwork.
• Assists in writing approved laboratory protocols and SOPs for research; develops and modifies test methods, selects procedures for data collection and handling; works with UCAR, USDA, veterinary staff, AAALAC URMC Pharmacy; prepares for and hosts laboratory inspections.
• Responsible for ensuring laboratory’s maintenance of computer records for laboratory supplies, animals, and equipment are kept up-to-date; ensures maintenance of chemical inventory is up-to-date and is in compliance with guidelines set by Environmental Health & Safety.
• Oversees and maintains records for hazardous waste disposal.
• Ensures that all laboratory staff are in compliance with Federal, State, and University regulations for use of laboratory animals and radioactivity, and general laboratory health and safety.

Other duties as assigned

Minimum Education & Experience

MINIMUM EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE Bachelor's degree and 2 years related work experience involving direct assistance to researchers required Master's degree and experience with tissue culture, primary culture, and/or animal handling preferred Or equivalent combination of education and experience

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to troubleshoot and repair equipment as needed required
• Demonstrated mathematical skills including basic algebra and the ability to use scientific notation preferred.
• Excellent organizational skills, communication skills, ability to use common sense, and demonstrate attention to detail.
• Knowledge of and experience with Microsoft Office software including Powerpoint, Excel, and Word preferred.
• Operational understanding of complex laboratory equipment, including pyrosequencer and experiential knowledge of the workings of a research laboratory, including general knowledge of genetics, biochemistry, microbiology, and molecular biology methods.
• Microscopy skills are beneficial preferred.
• Prior experience in managing an academic research laboratory and handling research animals, tissue culture, molecular and cell biology methodology and/or knowledge of immunologically-based techniques are desired preferred.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team and the capacity to design, organize, and analyze experimental data that serves as an invaluable tool in the publication of papers in scientific journals and obtaining future funding preferred.
• Must be able to work some evenings and weekends to conduct experiments preferred.
• Prior experience in next generation sequencing (including RNA sequencing library design and preparation for Illumina sequencing platforms), bioinformatics, and data handling, as well as experience in independent research in DNA methylation and bisulfite pyrosequencing preferred.

Equal Opportunity and Inclusion

The University of Rochester is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving an inclusive and welcoming culture to advance the University’s Mission to Learn, Discover, Heal, Create – and Make the World Ever Better. In support of our values and those of our society, the University is committed to not discriminating on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, military/veteran status, national origin, race, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law (Protected Characteristics). This commitment extends to non-discrimination in the administration of our policies, admissions, employment, access, and recruitment of candidates, for all persons consistent with our values and based on applicable law.

Located in western New York, Rochester is our namesake and our home. One of the world’s leading research universities, Rochester has a long tradition of breaking boundaries—always pushing and questioning, learning and unlearning. We transform ideas into enterprises that create value and make the world ever better. If you’re looking for a career in higher education or health care, the University of Rochester may offer the perfect opportunity for your background and goals. At the University of Rochester, we are committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving an inclusive and welcoming culture and are united by a strong commitment to be ever better—Meliora. It is an ideal that informs our shared mission to ensure all members of our community feel safe, respected, included, and valued.