Lab Specialist or Specialist Intermediate, Charlton Lab - Pediatrics

The University of Virginia’s Department of Pediatrics is seeking a Lab Professional. The Charlton Laboratory seeks a highly motivated, collaborative laboratory specialist to support research focused on kidney development, neonatal kidney disease, and the long-term consequences of early-life kidney injury. The successful candidate will have experience with animal models, histology, and molecular biology and be willing to learn or has experience working with human biospecimens.

This position requires excellent organizational and communication skills, careful attention to detail, and a strong commitment to teamwork and mentoring trainees.

This position will be filled as either a Lab Specialist or Lab Specialist Intermediate.

• Perform animal research procedures, including animal handling, monitoring, breeding, genotyping, tissue collection, and maintenance of accurate study records.
• Conduct histologic studies, including tissue fixation, processing, embedding, sectioning, staining, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, microscopy, and quantitative image analysis.
• Perform molecular and cellular laboratory techniques, which may include DNA/RNA extraction, PCR and quantitative PCR, protein isolation, Western blotting, ELISA, and preparation of samples for sequencing or other assays.
• Process, catalog, store, and analyze human biospecimens in accordance with approved protocols and institutional safety and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain accurate laboratory notebooks, electronic databases, specimen inventories, and animal records.
• Assist with experimental design, protocol development, troubleshooting, data collection, analysis, and presentation.
• Maintain laboratory equipment, monitor supply inventories, prepare reagents, and coordinate ordering.
• Support compliance with animal care, biosafety, human-subjects research, and other institutional requirements.
• Train and supervise students and other laboratory members in research techniques, laboratory safety, recordkeeping, and responsible conduct of research.
• Work closely with the principal investigator, research staff, students, clinical collaborators, and other laboratories to advance shared research goals.
• Contribute to abstracts, presentations, manuscripts, and grant-related materials as appropriate.

• An enthusiastic and dependable team player who contributes to a respectful, supportive, and collaborative laboratory environment.
• A patient and effective teacher who enjoys working with students at different levels of experience.
• Willing and able to work with both animal models and human biological samples.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and committed to scientific rigor and reproducibility.
• Able to manage multiple projects, prioritize responsibilities, and meet deadlines.
• Comfortable working independently while communicating regularly with the research team.
• Willing to learn new techniques, troubleshoot experiments, and adapt to changing project needs.
• Demonstrates professionalism, integrity, reliability, and respect for colleagues and research participants.

• Education:
  
  Bachelor’s degree required, may accept combination of experience/education/certification in lieu of degree.
• Experience:
  
  1+ year of relevant lab experience.

• Education:
  
  Bachelor’s degree required.
• Experience:
  
  3+ years of relevant experience.

• Experience with laboratory animals, including handling and basic experimental procedures.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Interest in teaching, mentoring, and working with undergraduate students, graduate students, medical trainees, or other learners.

• Lab Specialist (non-exempt): $21.63 - $26.44 ($45k-$55k annually)
• Lab Specialist Intermediate (exempt): $55,000 to $65,000 annually

This position can spend extensive periods of time standing and squatting while conducting experiments or caring for animals. Also requires keyboarding and other bench work and animal…