UNIV – Research Specialist I – Department of Pharmacology & Immunology

Medical University of South Carolina • Charleston, SC

1d • $33,339 - $61,680 • Onsite

About The Position

The Research Specialist I position is to assist in day-to-day lab maintenance and experiments with the Principal Investigator.

Requirements

• A high school diploma and two years work experience in a clinical or research setting; a bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, or other natural, life or health care science may be substituted for the two years of required experience.
• Ability to perform job functions in an upright position. (Frequent)
• Ability to perform job functions in a seated position. (Continuous)
• Ability to perform job functions while walking/mobile. (Frequent)
• Ability to climb, using step stool. (Infrequent)
• Ability to work in temperature extremes (32° F to 100° F) when required due to assignments in cold rooms and/or foreign countries. (Infrequent)
• Ability to work in confined/cramped spaces. (Continuous)
• Ability to bend at the waist. (Frequent)
• Ability to twist at the waist. (Frequent)
• Ability to fully use both hands/arms. (Continuous)
• Ability to perform repetitive motions with hands/wrists/elbows and shoulders. (Frequent)
• Ability to fully use both legs. (Frequent)
• Ability to reach in all directions, stretch, bend, while moving items/materials from both sitting and standing positions. (Frequent)
• Ability to maintain good olfactory sensory function/distinction. (Continuous)
• Ability to lift materials up to 20 lbs., unassisted. (Infrequent)
• Ability to lift and carry 4 liter waste material bottles a distance of 30 feet, unassisted. (Frequent)
• Ability to lift and carry 25-30 lbs. jugs of liquid a distance of 100 feet, unassisted. (Infrequent)
• Ability to lift file boxes, from floor level to counter tops, unassisted. (Frequent)
• Ability to push/ Ability to lift 40 lbs. centrifuge rotors from floor level to height of 40 inches, then down 20 inches into centrifuge drum, unassisted. (Infrequent)
• Ability to lift 25 lbs. boxes, from floor level to maximum height of 72 inches, unassisted. (Infrequent)
• Ability to push/pull file boxes from one location to another at floor level. (Frequent)
• Ability to maneuver heavy equipment on bench tops, 50 lbs. or greater, unassisted. (Frequent)
• Ability to perform gross motor functions with frequent fine motor movements. (Continuous)
• Ability to maintain 20/40 vision, corrected, in one eye or with both eyes. (Continuous)
• Ability to match or discriminate between colors, normally. (Continuous)
• Ability to hear and recognize various alarms emitting from work area systems. (Continuous)
• Ability to hear and/or understand conversations. (Continuous)
• Ability to work in a darkroom for processing film, etc. (Continuous)
• Ability to be qualified physically for respirator use, initially and annually. (Continuous)
• Ability to work rotating shifts as required.
• Ability to work overtime as required.
• Ability to learn and use new processes, tools and equipment as required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with Immunological testing preferred, including, but not limited to: Intracellular Cytokine Staining, Cytokine Bead Assay, Elisa, Elispot, MNC Isolation by Ficoll Gradient, Tetrameric Peptide Staining, Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Assay.
• Knowledge and Skill in Flow Cytometry and Hematology preferred.
• Previous experience with Dendritic Cells, T-cells, and/or Islet Isolations preferred.
• Candidate must be able to work independently or with limited supervision.

Responsibilities

• Perform work involving the use of small laboratory animals, including measuring tumors, collecting fluids and tissues; administering drugs and cells; performing cellular, chemical, and DNA analysis of blood and tissue samples, and freezing and thawing cells. The techniques that will be utilized include flow cytometry and PCR.
• Perform experiments investigating cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in immune cell function. Specifically, the applicant will utilize cell and molecular biology techniques including but limited to, cell culture, molecular cloning, and enzymatic assays; transfections and gene expression assays; protein, RNA and DNA isolation and separation; ELISA; real-time RTPCR; immunostaining and flow cytometry; proliferation and apoptosis assays and immunohistochemistry.
• Effort will be needed to maintain rodent colonies and keeping records. Will also assist in creating new models through crossbreeding techniques. Communicating with other labs, whether it's transferring mice, providing samples, or needed information and protocol update using the online software support is required.
• Maintain laboratory instruments, supplies, and equipment. Maintain laboratory notebooks and records related to protocols, policy, and regulation. Will be involved in placing orders for the laboratory and communicating with suppliers to ensure that consumable supplies and reagents are timely delivered for the lab personnel.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED