Research Lab Specialist Assoc

Mission Statement 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.

Job Summary The Department of Pediatric Endocrinology is accepting applications for a research support position in Dr. Durga Singer's lab. The Singer Lab studies obesity and metabolic disease using mouse models, cell-based approaches, and human studies. This position will function as a Lab Manager for the lab and research team.  The Lab Manager manages daily laboratory operations, maintaining the organizational systems, resources, and research infrastructure that support the lab.

This is a highly collaborative team, and this position works closely with the PI, research faculty, postdoctoral fellows, students, and research staff assisting as necessary with lab experiments and mentoring.

Responsibilities
* The Research Lab Specialist Associate candidate will be expected to perform the following critical functions and techniques:

Manage day-to-day laboratory operations, identify operational needs, and develop practical systems and procedures. Coordinate purchasing, receiving, vendor communication, and shared supply, reagent, chemical, and sample inventories

Coordinate equipment maintenance, calibration, repairs, replacement, freezer monitoring, and facilities needs; maintain shared resource calendars, storage systems, and operational documentation

Have basic responsibilities including general laboratory duties (dishwashing, preparing solutions, ordering)
Coordinate animal-use and biosafety protocol renewals and amendments, training records, safety documentation, inspections, and required follow-up with the PI and University offices

Maintain animal colony records and coordinate mouse orders, transfers, housing, diet supplies, and animal-health communications with the Technician and scientific project leads

Coordinate personnel onboarding and offboarding, access, laboratory orientation, and required training; maintain onboarding materials and support students in coordination with their scientific mentors

Provide hands-on research support and technical coverage as needed, consistent with training and laboratory priorities

Coordinate laboratory meetings, retreats, and events and maintain clear communication about laboratory operations, procedures, and upcoming needs

Maintain shared protocols and standards for organized research records, data, and sample tracking; contribute operational documentation, methods, and data summaries to manuscripts and grants as assigned

Perform laboratory techniques as required: rodent handling, metabolic assays, genotyping, ELISA assay, PCR, qPCR, imaging and cell culture with appropriate data management from these research projects

Required Qualifications
* Bachelor's degree from an accredited university in biological/animal science, microbiology, health science or related field of study3 years of related work experience

Experience with animal-use or biosafety protocols, inspections, safety programs, electronic inventory systems, and equipment or freezer management

Experience onboarding and training research personnel; familiarity with mouse research, metabolic assays, molecular methods, immunology assays (flow cytometry), cell culture, microscopy, or human specimen handling

Strong organizational and communication skills, accurate record keeping, and ability to prioritize, solve problems, and work independently and collaboratively

Ability to complete required training and comply with University research, safety, biosafety, and animal-care procedures

Desired Qualifications
* Five or more years of lab experience

Master's degree in biological/animal science, microbiology, health or related field of study preferred

Demonstrated experience coordinating daily laboratory operations, including purchasing, inventory systems, equipment, or research-compliance activities

Working knowledge of research laboratory methods and safety practices sufficient to coordinate resources, support personnel, and provide technical backup within areas of training

Why Join Michigan Medicine?

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