Research Laboratory Specialist Lead

A cover letter and the contact information for 3 references are required for consideration for this position. The cover letter should be attached as the first page of your CV. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Michigan Medicine improves the health of patients, populations and communities through excellence in education, patient care, community service, research and technology development, and through leadership activities in Michigan, nationally and internationally.

Our mission is guided by our Strategic Principles and has three critical components; patient care, education and research that together enhance our contribution to society.

The Hastings Laboratory investigates the molecular basis of disease and develops RNA-based therapeutics. Spanning a range of genetic and neurodegenerative disorders, the lab applies antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), alongside small molecules. Mechanistic work spans RNA splicing and processing, with additional interests in microRNA regulation.

We are seeking a Research Lab Specialist Lead to serve as the scientific and computational backbone of the laboratory. This is a senior, PhD-level role for a specialist who pairs deep RNA/splicing biology with production-grade genomics and data-analysis expertise. You will work directly with the PI to set research direction, own the transcriptomic and multi-omics analyses that drive our therapeutic discovery and mechanistic studies, and lead the day-to-day scientific operations of the lab.

Lead Scientific Operations & Research Direction

• Manage the day-to-day operations of the laboratory, working directly with the PI on the development and implementation of the research plan and research goals.
• Take a leadership position in the lab ? assess operations and make decisions about the direction and performance of the research work.
• Manage all phases of large, complex research projects, from experimental design through analysis and reporting, functioning as the lab's resident specialist and technical expert.

Own the Computational & Data-Analysis Engine

• Build and maintain the analysis pipelines that quantify how splice-modulating therapeutics ? ASOs, splice-switching oligonucleotides, and small-molecule splice modifiers ? perturb the transcriptome, including RNA-seq, splicing/isoform quantification, and target engagement/off‑target readouts.
• Develop computational tools for the rational design of splice-modulating oligonucleotides ? predicting effective ASO target sites and modeling splicing outcomes to guide the next generation of therapeutic candidates.
• Develop the necessary statistical, mathematical, and computational models for analyzing experimental data, and recommend improvements in experimental design and modeling.
  
  Integrate multi-omic and population-scale genomic data to identify and prioritize therapeutic targets and interpret mechanism.
• Leverage high-performance computing resources for large-scale genomic analyses, and establish reproducible data‑management, QC, and analysis standards for the lab.
• Design and oversee the molecular assays that validate splice-modulating activity of ASOs and small-molecule modifiers ? e.g., qRT-PCR, targeted and whole‑transcriptome RNA‑seq, knockdown and splice‑modulation readouts.
• Function as subject specialist on assay development and troubleshooting, needing little direction or review of work.
• Provide technical assistance and supervision in equipment operation, method design, and maintenance.
• Collaborate with the PI, lab members, and external partners to design experiments and analyses aligned with project goals; act on behalf of the PI as a liaison with other departments, programs, and external agencies.
• Write significant portions of research proposals and grant applications.
• Co-author publications, write independent articles, and make formal presentations of findings ? including at national conferences ? with or without the PI.
• Exercise functional and administrative supervision over laboratory personnel; plan and coordinate the work of technicians,…