Research Professional

Position Information

Classification Title Research Professional AD FLSA Exempt FTE 1.00

Minimum Qualifications

Requires at least a baccalaureate degree in the field. Please contact your Human Resources office for an evaluation of education/experience in lieu of the required minimum qualifications.

Preferred Qualifications

A college degree in science, laboratory and computer experience is necessary (a Masters degree is preferred), as well as experience in molecular biology, protein expression, purification, and general laboratory methods are required. The job requires detailed capabilities to carry out molecular biology and biochemistry protocols, run all aspects of the expression platform as well as effective capabilities for coordinating and supervising numerous concurrent projects from initiation to completion.

The expectation is that the employee will be well trained in molecular biology, protein biochemistry, and enzymology, with a preferred expertise with bacterial propagation and mammalian cell culture.

Position Summary

The Research Professional has duties to design develop, organize, and supervise the work on a major recombinant protein expression project in the lab employing bacterial or mammalian cell culture systems. The goals of this research project will provide large scale protein production for enzyme structural and functional studies. The position entails establishing project goals, working directly with supervising faculty to design and implement new recombinant constructs, developing priorities among the large number of constructs, generation and large scale production of recombinant DNAs, and supervising work of other research technicians to accomplish these goals.

Work duties include close collaboration with senior faculty and working within a larger research group of postdoctoral researchers, research technicians, and undergraduate researchers to develop strategies for high quantity protein expression, and close interaction with investigators at other research sites for the design and generation of new constructs for collaborative studies. Additional roles involve supervision of research technicians and undergraduate researchers on preparation of plasmid DNAs from bacterial cultures, executing protocols for novel transfection strategies of mammalian cells, and training research technicians and undergraduate researchers on standard operating procedures.

Direct supervision of the Research Professional by senior faculty is anticipated.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies

* Experience in molecular biology, protein expression, purification, and general laboratory methods are required.

Physical Demands

Normal lab activity.

Is driving a responsibility of this position? No Is this a Position of Trust? Yes Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources? No Does this position require a P-Card? No Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position? No Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care?

No Does this position have Security Access (e.g., public safety, IT security, personnel records, patient records, or access to chemicals and medications) Yes Credit and P-Card policy

Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website.

Background Investigation Policy

Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable.

Please visit the UGA Background Check website.

Duties/Responsibilities

Duties/Responsibilities

Design of new recombinant DNA constructs within the Moremen lab and interaction and design of constructs in consultation with researchers at remote sites for collaborative projects.

Percentage of time 35 Duties/Responsibilities

Generation of recombinant constructs and verification by DNA sequencing.

Percentage of time 15 Duties/Responsibilities

Large scale isolation of recombinant DNAs for mammalian cell transfection.

Percentage of time 25 Duties/Responsibilities

Identifying optimal protocols for isolation of large-scale plasmid DNA preparations.

Percentage of time 5 Duties/Responsibilities

Establishing and optimizing strategies and protocols for purification of expressed proteins

Percentage of time 5 Duties/Responsibilities

Training and supervision of Research Technicians and undergraduate researchers in their duties on generation of large-scale plasmid preparations…