Research Manager

University of Washington•Seattle, WA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Pharmacology has an excellent opportunity for a Research Manager. The Kraemer Lab works to understand the molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative disease associated with ageing. The lab investigates how protein aggregation drives disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and frontotemporal degeneration, with a focus on identifying the genetic drivers of tau- and TDP-43–mediated neurodegeneration. Through this work, the lab seeks to uncover key pathways of neurotoxicity, with the ultimate goal of identifying therapeutic targets and developing strategies to prevent disease progression. The Research Manager provides strategic and operational leadership for the Kraemer Lab’s research program, overseeing a portfolio of projects focused on neurodegenerative disease. This role applies scientific expertise to guide research direction, manage day-to-day lab operations, and ensure effective execution of funded projects. The position is responsible for supervising research staff, administering financial and personnel functions, and supporting grant and program management. In collaboration with the Principal Investigator, the Research Manager contributes to setting research priorities, maintaining compliance, and representing the lab to internal and external stakeholders, with the goal of advancing high-quality, impactful scientific discovery.

Requirements

Doctoral degree in biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, or related field
At least one year of laboratory management experience
Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration.

Nice To Haves

10 years of laboratory management experience.
Experience managing program operations in an academic or research setting.
Experience managing projects involving C. elegans and mouse behavior and genetics
Experience with writing mouse experimental protocols and managing interactions with an IACUC
Ability to independently manage complex projects to completion while meeting deadlines.
Strong organizational, problem‑solving, and prioritization skills with attention to detail.
Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills; professional judgment when working with faculty and staff.
Experience supporting training or professional development for adult learners.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and collaboration tools; ability to quickly learn new systems and support digital communications (e.g., websites).

Responsibilities

Partner with the Principal Investigator to set strategic direction and priorities for the lab’s research program
Oversee day-to-day scientific and operational activities across multiple research projects to ensure progress, rigor, and alignment with funded aims
Coordinate and manage research workflows, timelines, and project milestones across the lab
Lead and supervise eight research staff; provide hiring, performance evaluation, coaching, and corrective action as needed
Facilitate collaboration across projects by aligning resources, troubleshooting challenges, and promoting best practices
Represent the lab and/or PI in interactions with collaborators, institutional partners, and external stakeholders as needed
Contribute to development of new research initiatives, grant proposals, and programmatic growth
Ensure adherence to scientific standards, reproducibility, and documentation practices
Supervise management of mouse colony and advise on mouse behavioral and genetics experiments
Organize and maintain large collection of frozen samples, including C. elegans, cell culture, and mouse tissue samples
Oversee fiscal management of multiple grants and research budgets, including tracking expenditures, forecasting, and ensuring appropriate use of funds
Partner with finance and grants teams to support proposal development, budgeting, reporting, and renewals
Prepare financial summaries and progress updates for the PI and funding agencies
Ensure compliance with institutional, state, and federal financial policies and sponsor requirements
Train, mentor, and support professional development of research staff, trainees, and students
Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing lab environment
Develop onboarding materials and training processes to ensure consistency and quality
Promote skill development in experimental design, data analysis, and scientific communication
Ensure compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements (e.g., biosafety, research compliance, data management)
Serve as liaison with institutional offices (e.g., EH&S, compliance, research administration)
Oversee maintenance of required documentation, protocols, and reporting for funded research
Write and update IACUC protocols for mouse experiments
Establish and maintain lab policies, standard operating procedures, and safety practices
Support audit readiness and regulatory reviews
Oversee data management practices to ensure integrity, organization, and accessibility of research outputs
Support analysis, interpretation, and visualization of research findings across projects
Contribute to preparation of manuscripts, grant applications, and scientific presentations
Facilitate regular lab meetings, progress updates, and reporting of results