Sr. Research Associate 1, SOM

University of Miami; United States; On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Miami/UHealth department invites applications for a Full Time Sr. Research Associate 1 to support TEM-based research at the UHealth Medical Campus. This role includes advanced TEM experiments, training, and mentoring of staff and students in the Core TEM facility.

Responsibilities include sample prep, sectioning, immunogold staining, image acquisition, and maintaining safety and equipment. Strong independence and data analysis skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant field; no experience required.
• Preference for 3 years of TEM and histology experience.
• CEMT certification preferred.
• Skill in collecting, organizing, and analyzing data.
• Ability to recognize, analyze, and solve problems.
• Ability to recognize histological tissue.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to operate instruments independently.

Responsibilities

• Performs specialized and complex experiments in the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) field.
• Advances expertise through education, training, and research.
• Collects, prepares, analyzes, dissects, and evaluates samples for TEM, including resin-embedding block tissue, cell cultures and pellets.
• Performs sectioning for semi-thin and thin sections in the ultramicrotome.
• Stains the sections collected onto grids for contrast.
• Loads nanoparticles and extracellular vesicles onto grids.
• Specialized tasks to include immunostaining (immunogold) at the TEM level.
• Operates ultramicrotomes and transmission electron microscopes.
• Acquires images in the TEM and shares copies with users.
• Assists in checking-in users who operate the TEM and completes login sheets.
• Performs safety checks and ensures facilities meet GLP/GxP standards.
• Prepares laboratories for annual EH&S inspections.
• Maintains lab equipment per regulations and assists in repairs.
• Updates protocols and SOPs for core operations.
• Trains students and volunteers on SOPs and equipment.

Skills

TEM expertise

Histology

Data analysis

Independent work

Problem solving

Education

Master’s Degree in relevant field

CEMT certification

Tools

Ultramicrotome

JEOL JEM-1400

Job description

Sr. Research Associate 1

The University of Miami/UHealth department of The Miami Project has an exciting opportunity for a Full Time Sr. Research Associate 1 to work at the UHealth Medical Campus.

The Sr. Research Associate 1, SOM (A) provides laboratory-based support for the University’s research activities by tackling the more specialized and complex projects and experiments.

The Sr. Research Associate 1, SOM (A) provides laboratory-based support for the University’s research activities by tackling the more specialized and complex projects and experiments. Additionally, the incumbent leverages expertise in training and mentoring department staff, students, and less experienced research associates.

CORE JOB SUMMARY

The Sr. Research Associate 1, SOM (A) provides laboratory-based support for the University’s research activities by tackling the more specialized and complex projects and experiments. Additionally, the incumbent leverages expertise in training and mentoring department staff, students, and less experienced research associates.

CORE JOB FUNCTIONS

• Performs specialized and complex experiments in the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) field.
• Advances expertise through education, training, and research.
• Collects, prepares, analyzes, dissects, and evaluates samples for TEM, including resin-embedding block tissue, cell cultures and pellets.
• Performs sectioning for semi-thin and thin sections in the ultramicrotome.
• Stains the sections collected onto grids for contrast.
• Loads nanoparticles and extracellular vesicles onto grids.
• Specialized tasks to include immunostaining (immunogold) at the TEM level.
• Operates sensitive and highly complex laboratory equipment such as the ultramicrotomes and the transmission electron microscopes.
• Acquires images in the transmission electron microscope and sends electronic copies to users.
• Assists in checking-in users who come to operate the electron microscope independently, including starting the scope and the camera software, and completing the login sheet.
• Performs quality checks on safety of laboratories, including bio hazards, and insures maintenance of the facilities according to good laboratory practices.
• Responsible for preparing the laboratories for the annual Environmental Health and Safety inspection.
• Maintains laboratory equipment in compliance with federal regulations including the two transmission electron microscopes.
• Contacts technicians to perform necessary repairs.
• Updates protocols accordingly – both hard copies and electronic files in the shared drive.
• Assists in training students and volunteers in the standard operating procedures of the Core and equipment specific requirements.
• Interacts with other laboratories and TEM Core users.
• Participates in training sessions, workshops and presentations.
• Adheres to University and unit-level policies and procedures and safeguards University assets.

Department Specific Functions

The Senior RA1 will be responsible for processing samples for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses. This function includes, but it is not limited to, embedding samples (block tissue, cell cultures, pellets, etc.) in resin, sectioning blocks in the ultramicrotome and staining grids. Other specialized duties are loading grids with nanoparticles/extracellular vesicles, immunogold staining for TEM, and operating the two JEOL JEM-1400 electron microscopes. The Senior RA1 will interact with TEM Core users, train students, present at workshops, and assist the Manager in the general maintenance of the laboratory. This list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties or responsibilities as necessary.

CORE QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s Degree in relevant field No experience required.
• Preference- 3 years of relevant experience in transmission electron microscopy and histology.
• CEMT certification preferred.
• Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes: Skill in collecting, organizing, and analyzing data.
• Ability to recognize, analyze, and solve a variety of problems.
• Ability to recognize, analyze, and identify histological tissue.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in making critical decisions.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to operate instruments independently.

The University of Miami offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, tuition remission and more.

UHealth-University of Miami Health System, South Florida's only university-based health system, provides leading-edge patient care powered by the ground breaking research and medical education at the Miller School of Medicine.

As an academic medical center, we are proud to serve South Florida, Latin America and the Caribbean. Our physicians represent more than 100 specialties and sub-specialties, and have more than one million patient encounters each year. Our tradition of excellence has earned worldwide recognition for outstanding teaching, research and patient care. We're the challenge you've been looking for.

The University of Miami is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants and employees are protected from discrimination based on certain categories protected by Federal law.

Job Status: Full time Employee Type: Staff

The mission of the University of Miami is to transform lives through education, research, innovation, and service. A vibrant and diverse academic and healthcare community, the University of Miami and the University of Miami Health System ("UHealth") have rapidly progressed to become one of the nation’s top research universities and academic medical centers in the nation. The University comprises 12 schools and colleges serving undergraduate and graduate students in more than 350 majors and programs. Visit welcome.miami.edu/about-um to learn more about our points of pride. The University ranks No. 55 on U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 Best Colleges list and ranked No. 49 in the 2022 Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings. Bascom Palmer Eye Institute is ranked the #1 eye hospital in the USA and offers some of the nation's premiere eye doctors to treat every eye condition for adults. Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer, part of the Miller School of Medicine, received the prestigious National Cancer Institute designation in 2019. The University of Miami and UHealth have also ranked among the Forbes Best Employers and Best Employers for Women on several occasions, most recently in 2022. With more than 17,000 faculty and staff, the University strives for excellence, and is driven by a powerful mission to transform and impact the lives of its students, patients, members of the community, and people across the globe.

The University of Miami is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants and employees are protected from discrimination based on certain categories protected by Federal law.