Research Specialist II

University of Rochester • City of Rochester, NY

3d • $55,955 - $78,336 • Onsite

About The Position

The University of Rochester is seeking a Research Specialist II to provide direct research support at the professional entry level. This role involves working independently with occasional guidance to modify standard procedures in experiments related to the culture of human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells for generating glial progenitor cells. The specialist will perform fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and Magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) analysis and sorting, maintain cell cultures, coordinate cell and animal availability, and prepare cells for transplantation. Responsibilities also include preparing cells from human and rodent brain tissues and cultured cells for flow cytometry and FACS, operating and maintaining a BD FACSAria III cell sorter, analyzing and evaluating experimental data, and adjusting experimental plans based on results. Additionally, the role involves teaching laboratory techniques and instrumentation to students and staff, troubleshooting technical problems, searching literature, writing technical protocols, performing statistical analyses, assisting in publication preparation, and giving oral and written reports. The specialist will also order supplies, maintain equipment, and perform other assigned duties.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required
• 1 year of relevant experience or equivalent combination of education and experience required
• Applicants should be self-motivated and capable of working independently as well as in a collaborative setting required
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including written communication required
• Ability to readily learn new experimental techniques required
• Familiarity with MS Office programs (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel) required
• Ability to generate and organize large sets of data, strains, and plasmids, and familiarity with all aspects of a laboratory to effectively help organize the lab required
• Ability to troubleshoot and repair equipment as needed required
• Excellent organization skills to help coordinate several projects, and the skills to help train inexperienced personnel required

Responsibilities

• Provides direct research support at the professional entry level.
• Works independently with only occasional suggestions in modifying, varying or adapting standard procedures in experiments related to culture of human embryonic stem cell and induced pluripotent stem cells for the generation of glial progenitor cells.
• Performs fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and Magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) analysis and sorting to meet the specific needs of lab research projects.
• Maintains cells in culture, ensures that cell and animal availability are coordinated and prepares cells for transplantation.
• Prepares cells from human and rodent brain tissues and cultured cells for flow cytometry and FACS.
• Runs BD FACSAria III cell sorter for experiments related to human or rodent neural progenitor cells and their progeny populations under supervision during the initial training period and independently operates and maintains the instrument after training.
• Analyzes and evaluates experimental data and interprets results within the scope of the study; assesses the importance of findings in relation to their projects.
• Based on interpretation of the results, adjusts plans for upcoming experiments.
• Teaches laboratory techniques and instrumentation procedures to students and laboratory technical support staff; and counsels them on technical problems.
• Searches literature for references to technical problems involved in research projects; writes technical protocols; performs standard statistical analyses of data; and assists in the preparation of materials for publication.
• Frequently gives both oral and written reports, including but not limited to, statistical and photographic analysis of data.
• Orders supplies for lab procedures and maintains histological and related laboratory equipment; other duties as assigned

Benefits

• The referenced pay range represents the minimum and maximum compensation for this job. Individual annual salaries/hourly rates will be set within the job's compensation range, and will be determined by considering factors including, but not limited to, market data, education, experience, qualifications, expertise of the individual, and internal equity considerations.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level