Research Associate 1 - Laboratory Manager

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The Cnidarian Immunity Laboratory at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science is seeking a Research Associate 1 to serve as the laboratory manager. This individual will oversee the day-to-day scientific operations of the lab. This person will manage equipment and supplies, keep the lab organized and compliant, train students in core bench techniques, and troubleshoot problems as they arise. It is a hands-on role that suits someone who likes variety, takes ownership of a space, and enjoys teaching. 

Responsibilities include:

• Equipment management. Maintain, calibrate, and troubleshoot lab equipment; coordinate service contracts and repairs; keep usage and maintenance records current.
• Lab organization. Organize lab space, reagents, samples, and freezer inventories; establish and maintain systems that keep shared resources findable and functional.
• Ordering and purchasing. Order supplies and reagents, track budgets and expenditures, manage vendor relationships, and process purchasing paperwork with departmental and University systems.
• Training and mentorship. Train and supervise undergraduate researchers and new lab members in cell culture, molecular biology, and general lab skills; oversee onboarding and safety training.
• Troubleshooting. Diagnose and resolve technical problems with protocols, instruments, and experiments; serve as the first point of contact when something goes wrong.
• Safety and compliance. Maintain chemical and biological safety compliance, waste disposal, and required documentation in coordination with University EH&S.
• Research support. Support ongoing projects at the bench, including sample processing, cell culture, nucleic acid extraction, and assay development as needed.

Required Qualifications

• B.S. in biology, marine biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, or a related field. Two years of hands-on laboratory experience preferred. 
• Demonstrated proficiency in cell and molecular biology techniques — for example cell culture, microscopy, nucleic acid extraction, PCR/qPCR, gel electrophoresis, and library or sample preparation. 
• • Strong time-management skills and the ability to prioritize and advance multiple tasks in parallel without losing track of details. 
• • A collaborative approach to work and the ability to supervise, teach, and motivate undergraduate students. 
• • Flexibility and availability to respond when urgent problems arise — equipment failures, live-animal or culture emergencies, or time-sensitive experiments. 
• • The ability to learn new techniques, instruments, and systems quickly and independently. 
• • Clear written and verbal communication, and comfort with recordkeeping and documentation. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Prior experience managing or coordinating an academic research laboratory. 
• Experience with marine invertebrates, aquarium or live-animal husbandry, or field sampling. 
• Familiarity with genomics workflows, flow cytometry, or single-cell methods. 
• Basic computational skills (R, Python, or command-line) for data organization and quality control. 
• Experience with university purchasing systems, grant budgets, or IACUC/EH&S compliance. 

CORE JOB SUMMARY
The Research Associate 1, MAS supports research activities for the assigned division by conducting laboratory experiments on assigned research projects. Moreover, the incumbent operates with the goal of advancing his/her expertise through continued education, training, and research.

CORE JOB FUNCTIONS
1. Understands and interprets research protocols and procedures.
2. Participates in the publication of significant results.
3. Maintains an overview of relevant research findings.
4. Ensures all research is undertaken according to good research practice.
5. Keeps abreast of current publications relative to methods, techniques, and developments within the area of research.
6. Collects, prepares, analyzes, dissects, and evaluates specimens or tissue cultures.
7. Operates and maintains laboratory equipment.
8. Performs a variety of routine assays, tests, and studies.
9. Performs calculations to complete research test results, collects data, and performs statistical analysis of laboratory results.
10. Adheres to University and unit-level policies and procedures and safeguards University assets.

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
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in relevant field required

Experience:
No previous experience required

Certification and Licensing:
Refer to department description for applicable certification requirements

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Learning Agility: Ability to learn new procedures, technologies, and protocols, and adapt to changing priorities and work demands.
• Teamwork: Ability to work collaboratively with others and contribute to a team environment.
• Technical Proficiency: Skilled in using office software, technology, and relevant computer applications.
• Communication: Strong and clear written and verbal communication skills for interacting with colleagues and stakeholders.

This is a core job profile description and is not reflective of all duties that may be assigned to a specific position in each individual department. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and primary responsibilities of this core job profile. Specific duties and tasks may vary based upon departmental needs. Other duties may be assigned to the above consistent with the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the job.

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Job Status:

Full time

Employee Type:

Staff