UNIV - Research Specialist I - Department of Biochemistry

Medical University of South Carolina•Charleston, SC

1d•$37,200 - $59,500•Onsite

About The Position

The laboratory of Dr. Daniel Sprague has an opening for a collegial, self-motivated Research Specialist I to start in summer-Early Fall 2026. The Sprague Lab is a chemical biology laboratory within the Department of Biochemistry at MUSC. The lab focuses on understanding signaling pathways to ultimately develop new small molecules to treat different diseases. Currently, there are ongoing projects in bladder cancer, parasitic flatworm biology, epigenetics, and neuropharmacology.

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.
Ability to perform job functions in a seated position.
Ability to perform job functions while walking/mobile.
Ability to climb, using step stool.
Ability to work in temperature extremes (32° F to 100° F) when required due to assignments in cold rooms and/or foreign countries.
Ability to work in confined/cramped spaces.
Ability to bend at the waist.
Ability to twist at the waist.
Ability to fully use both hands/arms.
Ability to perform repetitive motions with hands/wrists/elbows and shoulders.
Ability to fully use both legs.
Ability to reach in all directions, stretch, bend, while moving items/materials from both sitting and standing positions.
Ability to maintain good olfactory sensory function/distinction.
Ability to lift materials up to 20 lbs., unassisted.
Ability to lift and carry 4 liter waste material bottles a distance of 30 feet, unassisted.
Ability to lift and carry 25-30 lbs. jugs of liquid a distance of 100 feet, unassisted.
Ability to lift file boxes, from floor level to counter tops, unassisted.
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.
Ability to lift 25 lbs. boxes, from floor level to maximum height of 72 inches, unassisted.
Ability to push/pull file boxes from one location to another at floor level.
Ability to maneuver heavy equipment on bench tops, 50 lbs. or greater, unassisted.
Ability to perform gross motor functions with frequent fine motor movements.
Ability to maintain 20/40 vision, corrected, in one eye or with both eyes.
Ability to match or discriminate between colors, normally.
Ability to hear and recognize various alarms emitting from work area systems.
Ability to hear and/or understand conversations.
Ability to work in a darkroom for processing film, etc.
Ability to be qualified physically for respirator use, initially and annually.
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

Prior wet-lab research experience in cellular and molecular biology.
Experience in protein production is a benefit but not required.

Responsibilities

Performs mammalian tissue culture including transfection
Grows, maintains, expands, and treats mammalian cell lines
Develops, evaluates and implements new or modified culture procedures
Performs lentiviral transductions, isolates single clones, performs shRNA-knockdown analyses
Performs DNA/RNA/Protein analysis
Extracts DNA/RNA/Protein from mammalian cells.
Analyzes DNA/RNA/Protein by (q)PCR, Western Blot, and other standard techniques.
Performs small molecule screening, fluorometric assays, cellular viability assays, BRET/FRET/Calcium Flux assays, etc.
Maintains small molecule libraries in workable form
Prepares well-organized daily laboratory records of experimental procedures and results
Presents research routinely to the lab at lab meetings and participate in lab meeting discussions
Processes orders for the laboratory.
Help keep the lab safe, clean, and compliant.
Help maintain and set-up laboratory equipment
Upon request, performs other tasks requested to maintain a smooth operation of laboratory