UNIV - Research Specialist II - Surgery: Center for Cellular Therapy

Medical University of South Carolina • Charleston, SC

2d

About The Position

The Department of Surgery, Center for Cellular Therapy, is actively recruiting for a Research Specialist II. The RSII will perform general laboratory work with human blood and tissue as well as minor administration duties in a translational clinical cGMP lab

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, or other natural, life or health care science and one year work experience directly related to the assigned research area.
• 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 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

• Strong communication skills.
• Ability to handle heavy materials or delicate micro-volume samples with care.
• Experience with immunological testing preferred, including but not limited to: ELISA, mononuclear cell isolation by density gradient, and Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte (CTL) assays.
• Knowledge and skills in Flow Cytometry and Hematology are preferred.
• Previous experience with dendritic cells, T-cells, mesenchymal stem cells, and/or islet isolations is preferred.
• Knowledge of microbiology and immunology principles, as well as related laboratory techniques and scientific procedures, is preferred.
• Knowledge of aseptic technique is preferred.
• Must be able to work independently with minimal supervision.

Responsibilities

• Processing of human blood and tissue specimens in a classified cleanroom/controlled environment. The employee will be involved in handling viral vectors; aseptic processing and large-scale culture of PBMCs, unstimulated mononuclear derived cells, stimulated peripheral blood-derived mononuclear cells, CD34+ selected cells, T-cells and/or other specific cells collected during apheresis. The target cells will be processed, cultured, packaged and/or cryopreserved. Participate in the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs), assist with the validation of SOPs for any additional cellular products including new CAR-T, mesenchymal stem cells and other cellular products.
• The employee will participate in the Autologous Islet Cell Isolation process, mesenchymal stem cell culture and functional analysis.
• Immunological testing of Human Blood and Tissue Specimens, involving sample preparation and running troubleshooting for flow cytometry, ELISA, Elispot, co-culture for antigen recognition and other assays. This portion of the position will require the performance of complex microbiological testing of blood specimens from clinical patients. This will include isolation of the buffy coat from whole blood using a density gradient separation and staining for Flow Cytometry.
• Other general lab duties including routine cleaning of the controlled environment using specified chemicals, some of which require the use of a full-face respirator, managing inventory of supplies, ordering of supplies, instrumentation disinfection and sterilization, data collection, training and development of protocols, etc.
• Other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees