Research Specialist - Spatial & Genome Technologies

University of Illinois Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance

Tuition waivers for employees and Dep.

Job summary

University of Illinois Chicago is seeking a Research Specialist in Spatial & Genome Technologies to support single-cell and spatial genomics services from design to data quality assessment.

The candidate will work with diverse investigators, operate Chromium, Xenium and CytAssist platforms, and contribute to developmental genomic technologies across projects. A strong molecular biology background and collaborative mindset are essential.

Qualifications

• B.S. degree in molecular biology or related field.
• At least 3 years of genomic/molecular biology/lab experience.
• Experience operating and maintaining genomics instrumentation and associated software.
• Hands-on experience with NGS workflows and QC.
• Experience with experimental design and QA for omics studies.
• Familiarity with scRNA-seq or spatial omics.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Perform bulk RNA sequencing, single-cell and single-nucleus genomics workflows with QA.
• Operate Xenium and CytAssist systems; monitor data quality and project deliverables.
• Coordinate laboratory operations, materials and records for bulk RNAseq, single-cell and spatial genomics projects.
• Maintain equipment and troubleshoot instrument issues and workflow failures.
• Train staff and student workers in protocols and safety procedures.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to meet timelines and quality standards.

Skills

Laboratory experience

NGS workflows

Single-cell & spatial omics

Project management

Communication

Education

B.S. in molecular biology or related field

M.S./Ph.D. in related field

Tools

Chromium System

Xenium System

CytAssist platform

Visium

Job description

Research Specialist, Spatial & Genome Technologies

Research Specialist - Spatial & Genome Technologies Research Core

Hiring Department: OVCR - Research Resources Center (RRC)

Location: Chicago, IL

Requisition ID: 1041864

Posting Close Date: August 14, 2026

Salary: The budgeted salary range for the position is $70,000 - $80,000. The final salary offered will be determined by a thorough assessment of available market data, internal salary equity, candidate experience and qualifications, and budget constraints.

UIC is among the nation's preeminent urban public research universities, a Carnegie RU/VH research institution, and the largest university in Chicago. UIC serves over 34,000 students, comprising one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation and is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPSI) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Through its 16 colleges, UIC produces nationally and internationally recognized multidisciplinary academic programs in concert with civic, corporate and community partners worldwide, including a full complement of health sciences colleges. By emphasizing cutting-edge and transformational research along with a commitment to the success of all students, UIC embodies the dynamic, vibrant and engaged urban university. Recent "Best Colleges" rankings published by U.S. News & World Report, found UIC climbed up in its rankings among top public schools in the nation and among all national universities. UIC has over 300,000 alumni, and is one of the largest employers in the city of Chicago.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

The Research Specialist will play a key role in the operation and advancement of single-cell and spatial genomics services, supporting investigators throughout the research lifecycle, from experimental design and sample preparation to data generation and quality assessment. The successful candidate will possess a strong background in molecular biology and genomics, with experience in next-generation sequencing, single-cell genomics, spatial biology technologies or related fields. This position offers the opportunity to work with a diverse research community and contribute to the development and implementation of innovative genomic technologies that accelerate scientific discovery.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform genomic profiling workflows, including bulk RNA sequencing, single-cell genomics, and single-nucleus genomics. Responsibilities include evaluation of RNA, cell, and nuclei quality and quantity, accurate counting of dissociated cells and nuclei, operation of the Chromium System, construction of single-cell libraries and conducting library quality assessments (QA) using automated electrophoresis systems.
• Conduct imaging-based spatial genomics workflows, including operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of the Xenium System, preparation and processing of samples, execution of Xenium runs, and monitoring of data quality and project deliverables.
• Conduct sequencing-based spatial genomic workflows, including operation of the of the CytAssist platform, Visium library construction, and library (QA).
• Coordinate laboratory operations, including inventory management, creation of project records, preparation and organization of reagents and consumables, and coordination of materials for bulk RNAseq, single-cell, and spatial genomics projects.
• Oversee routine maintenance of laboratory equipment, ensuring compliance with established procedures and documentation standards. Collaborate with technical support teams to troubleshoot and resolve instrument issues and workflow failures.
• Collaborate and communicate effectively with laboratory staff to prioritize workloads, allocate resources, monitor project progress, and coordinate workflows to ensure projects are completed according to established timelines and quality standards.
• Train employees and student workers on laboratory protocols, benchwork techniques, and laboratory safety procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S. degree in molecular biology, genetics, genomics, biochemistry, bioinformatics, life sciences or a related field.
• Minimum of 3 years of laboratory experience supporting genomic, molecular biology, single-cell, and/or spatial omics workflows.
• Demonstrated experience operating, troubleshooting and maintaining laboratory instrumentation and associated software used in genomics research.
• Hands-on experience with next-generation sequencing (NGS) workflows, including nucleic acid extraction, PCR, library preparation and quality control.
• Experience with experimental design, sample preparation and quality assurance processes for genomic, single-cell or spatial omics studies.
• Familiarity with single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), spatial transcriptomics or related omics technologies.
• Ability to work independently while effectively collaborating with multidisciplinary research teams.
• Strong organizational, communication, and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities.

Preferred Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. degree in molecular biology, genomics, bioinformatics, biochemistry or a related field.
• Direct experience with single-cell and spatial omics platforms, including 10x Genomics Chromium, Visium, Xenium or related technologies.
• Experience with spatial biology technologies such as multiplexed in situ hybridization, imaging-based spatial profiling or sequencing-based spatial transcriptomics.
• Knowledge of bioinformatics tools and analytical workflows for single-cell and spatial omics data analysis.
• Experience working in an academic core facility, shared resource laboratory, biotechnology company or similar research support environment.
• Familiarity with cloud-based computing environments, high-performance computing resources and genomic data management practices.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

The university provides accommodations to applicants and employees. Request an Accommodation

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.