Research Lab Specialist Intermediate

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.

Located within the NCRC, our lab uses collaboration and the unique strengths of our team members to gain pathogenic insights into glandular immunobiology, improving quality of life and developing cures for patients with dryness and autoimmunity. We have a focus on Sjogren's disease, a systemic autoimmune disease that causes severe dryness but also affects other organ systems. This disease has no disease-modifying treatment.

We focus on bench-to-bedside to implement our science to improve human health.

The researcher will be responsible for lab management duties including but not limited to: maintaining biosafety, IRB, and IACUC documentation, mouse colony management, maintaining chemical hygiene plans and chemical inventories, and lab supply and equipment ordering. Research projects will include mouse work modeling autoimmune dry eyes and dry mouth and measuring these features in rodents. Studies will be conducted with cell lines, mouse models, and human samples.

We routinely collaborate with other labs and investigators internally and externally. These activities are expected to lead to scholarly work that will be published in scientific journals and presented at national and international meetings. The Research Lab Specialist will work on an independent project with some supervision. Appointment is meant to position the applicant to become an independent Lead within the lab.

We invite applications from researchers with a background in exocrine gland research.

Under supervision, the Research Lab Specialist

• Manage day-to-day lab activities including protocol maintenance, biosafety and environment, health & safety compliance, ordering lab supplies and equipment, and maintaining the mouse colony.
• Identifies research problems and develops complex research methodologies and procedures
• Collects and analyzes complex research data, conducts experiments and interviews, and documents results according to established policies and procedures under general supervision
• Attends and assists with the facilitation of scholarly events and presentations in support of continued professional development and the dissemination of research information
• Writes or assists in developing grant applications and proposals to secure research funding
• Supervise the day-to-day activities of a research unit as needed
• Serves as a unit subject matter expert and liaison to internal and external stakeholders providing advanced level information and representing the interests of a specialized research area
• Assist with collecting, organizing, and maintaining research data.
• Support laboratory, clinical, computational, or administrative research activities related to Sjogren's disease studies.
• Conduct literature reviews and summarize scientific publications.
• Assist with sample processing, data entry, quality control procedures, and record keeping.
• Prepare research materials, reports, presentations, and study documentation.
• Participate in laboratory meetings, educational activities, and research discussions.
• Learn and apply research methods, laboratory procedures, and data management practices.
• Perform other research support activities as assigned.

• Bachelors degree in a biological sciences or health-related field
• 5 years of relevant laboratory experience
• Expertise in common assays like immunofluorescence, ELISA, western blots
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated interest in biomedical, clinical, or translational research.

• Experience with lab management
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office, data management software, or statistical analysis tools.
• Interest in autoimmune disease research, academic medicine, or health-related careers.

Michigan Medicine is one of the largest health care complexes in the world and has been the site of many groundbreaking medical and technological advancements since the opening…