Lab Manager: Molecular Biology Lab
About The Position
The James Franck Institute (JFI) hosts a broad range of research including quantitative biology and biological physics. Groups use a range of experimental and computational techniques to understand complex biological systems. The Lab Manager will oversee all day-to-day operations of the molecular biology laboratory, ensuring it runs both efficiently and safely. The successful candidate will support lab operations, order and maintain supplies and equipment, and will participate in and support scientific research, including their own independent research project. This person will be working closely with both undergraduate and graduate students within the lab and aid postdocs in succeeding in their research. This position is for a molecular biology laboratory within the PSD and James Franck Institute.
Requirements
- Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
- Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
- Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving abilities.
- Meticulous attention to detail and excellent organizational skills.
Nice To Haves
- Bachelor’s degree in physics, chemistry, or related field.
- Experience in molecular techniques such as nucleic acid preps, PCR, gel electrophoresis and blotting.
- Experience in sterile technique and culturing.
- Experience with yeast a plus.
- Understanding of molecular genetics and molecular evolution.
- Ability to work independently.
- Critical thinking and troubleshooting.
Responsibilities
- Conduct independent research projects, including executing experiments, collecting and analyzing the resultant data and preparing data in a presentable format.
- Maintains user logs, instrument logs, system logs, and computer system backups.
- Ensures users on best laboratory practices e.g., logs keeping, online reservation, housekeeping, proper waste disposals, etc.
- Assures quality control measures meet, adheres to as established in the laboratory policy and procedure.
- Performs instrument troubleshooting, repairs and services. Assists the service contracts and/or service calls.
- Provide hands on assistance for lab members as they conduct their own research projects.
- Train staff and students in current lab protocols as well as developing new protocols as research dictates.
- Review and assist undergraduate lab assistants with their experiments.
- Overseeing day-to-day lab operations to ensure efficiency and safety.
- Coordinating lab group, including scheduling and personnel support.
- Manages laboratory safety protocols to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations.
- Manages liquid and solid waste and hazard waste pickups, proper storage and disposal of chemical and hazard waste.
- Retains regular cleaning to ensure a clean and safe laboratory environment.
- Resolves issues occurred in the operations in a timely and professional manner, including but not limited to contacting users, university safety and service centers, building managers, building engineers, etc.
- Work independently in an organized, detailed manner within a collaborative team environment.
- Support the goals of the lab by ordering, maintaining stocks of supplies, maintaining instruments, lab organization and assist with training of new lab members.
- Optimize and document experimental protocols.
- Supports data collection and analytical needs of research projects.
- Conducts literature reviews and helps write reports and manuscripts.
- Ensures project compliance with different policies, procedures, directives, and mandates.
- Takes responsibility for the following laboratory duties: recognizing abnormal results and varying conditions or procedures to correct problems; setting up and performing experiments.
- Analyze the meaning, significance, causes, and effects of the subject.
- Performs other related work as needed.
Benefits
- The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off.
- Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook .
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Number of Employees
5,001-10,000 employees
