Research Specialist

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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

Responsibilities:

GENERAL PURPOSE:
Serve as Research Specialist I 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. Primary responsibilities are described below. Evening and weekend work will occasionally be required based upon experimental schedules and laboratory needs. Handling and use of laboratory animals, infectious agents, and chemicals will be required. Training in the safe handling of these agents is required, and will be provided. Exercise independent judgment and perform research activities independently with limited guidance from the principal investigator on adapting standard laboratory procedures to meet specific research-based goals. Ability to apply common sense approach to laboratory work, excellent time management, integration into an existing team, excellent interpersonal and communication skills are essential. It is anticipated that the role will be able to coordinate several projects simultaneously as well as train new laboratory members, including students, postdoctoral fellows and other technicians, on laboratory SOPs.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Conduct and oversee processing and analysis of collected specimens for immunohistological, biochemical, and molecular techniques including microscopy analysis, immunohistochemistry, histological analysis, Western blotting, ELISA, neurotransmitter quantification, and other techniques.  The position will also train other laboratory members (e.g., technical staff, students, etc.) on these techniques. Oversee the tissue processing for mass spectrometry.
• Develop and optimize new laboratory techniques including writing laboratory SOPs and training other technical staff and students on such SOPs.  Perform scientific literature searches and utilize such literature to develop SOPs and advise the principal investigator and/or their designee on appropriate technical approaches.

Animal Care & Compliance:

• Independently supervise and oversee large colonies of rodent breeding and maintenance.  Duties will include oversight of preparation of experimental substance (e.g. drugs, environmental chemicals) administration; oversee the ordering, breeding, and euthanasia of rodents for laboratory use as well as detailed record keeping of such activities including UCAR and DLAM forms/reports.  All animal work will be performed in compliance with DLAM and UCAR guidelines.  The position will communicate with DLAM staff in order to ensure the health of experimental research subjects.  The position will also coordinate with UCAR for annual and ad-hoc inspections to ensure compliance with all UCAR polices. It is anticipated that the position will provide guidance and train and supervise other laboratory members (e.g. students, technicians, etc.) to complete these duties.
• Oversee set up and conduct rodent inhalation exposures. This includes generation of metal nanoparticle atmospheres and their measurement and of ambient exposures to concentrated ultrafine air pollution particles in the Inhalation Facility.
• Plan and oversee non-survival specimen collections from rodents.  The position will be required to independently utilize UCAR-approved and scientifically appropriate euthanasia methods followed by microdissection of the brain into regions of scientific interest.
• Supervise and train other members of the laboratory, including other technical staff, graduate students, undergraduates and work-study personnel.
• Assist Principal Investigator and Senior Laboratory Staff with Planning and coordinating experimental timelines including scheduling other technical staff and students to complete experimental tasks.
• Assist in manuscript preparation.
• Strict adherence to written SOPs is required; as is detailed, daily record keeping.

Laboratory & Other Meetings:

• Participate and contribute to regularly-scheduled laboratory meetings.  Provide a verbal account of progress on lab-specific goals, including experimental progress on research activities, as well as reporting of lab members’ compliance with Federal, State, and University regulations for use of laboratory animals, radioactivity, hazardous materials, and general laboratory health and safety as needed.  Communicate with collaborators and university core facilities (e.g. inhalation facility histology core, microscopy core, behavioral core, etc.) via in-person meetings, email, and phone calls to coordinate research activities.

Other job duties and projects as assigned.

QUALFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• 1 year of related work experience involving direct assistance to researchers or equivalent combination of education and experience required.
• Operational understanding of basic laboratory equipment, including the ability to make solutions, use centrifuges, and accurately operate micropipettes required.
• Mathematical skills including basic algebra and the ability to use scientific notation required.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office programs (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) required.
• Ability to generate and organize large sets of data, strains, and plasmids, and familiarity with all aspects of a laboratory to effectively help organize the lab required.
• Ability to troubleshoot and repair equipment as needed required.
• Excellent organizational skills to help coordinate a number of projects, skills to help train inexperienced personnel, ability to use common sense, and attention to detail required.
• Must be able to work some evenings and weekends to conduct experiments required.
• Experiential knowledge of the basic workings of a research laboratory and common equipment including general knowledge of chemistry and biology preferred. Candidates with prior experience in inhalational exposures, handling research animals, rodent behavioral techniques, histology, ELISA, HPLC, and Western Blots preferred.  

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.