Research Specialist

Universities of Wisconsin•Madison, WI

18h•$45,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The research lab of Dr. Benjamin Spector is conducting research investigating the molecular basis of kidney transplant pathologies, specifically human subjects research exploring epigenetic changes in kidney transplant recipients in various disease states. The goal is to identify drug targets and diagnostic biomarkers that impact the health of kidney transplant patients. The Spector Lab is hiring a Research Specialist to aid in the coordination and performance of this translational research. The candidate will help develop, design, and conduct one or more research projects and organize daily operation of projects and specialized research areas under moderate supervision. This position requires excellent communication skills and an enthusiasm to engage with potential study participants and study team members. The Spector Lab is part of the School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics. This is a full or part-time, 80%-100% Terminal, 24-month appointment with the possibility of extension or conversion to an ongoing appointment based on need and/or funding. The position may require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location, and some work may be performed remotely. This position is identified as a position of trust with access to vulnerable populations, requiring a caregiver check every four years. Candidates should demonstrate exceptional interpersonal and organizational skills, be dependable, organized, have superb written and oral communication skills, be quick learners, motivated to develop new skills, and eager to work as part of a collaborative team.

Requirements

Experience with basic lab techniques, including DNA or RNA isolation (can include lab experiences as part of undergraduate coursework)
Experience with human subjects research

Nice To Haves

Experience recruiting and consenting subjects for human subjects research
Experience with bioinformatics, data science, and/or computational biology, including the use of R computing language
Experience with REDCap or similar programs

Responsibilities

Operates, cleans, and maintains organization of research equipment and research area
Tracks inventory levels and places replenishment orders
Conducts research experiments according to established research protocols with moderate impact to the project(s)
Collects data and monitors test results
Performs literature reviews and writes reports
Participates in subject identification, recruitment, and enrollment
Provides operational guidance on day-to-day activities of unit or program staff and/or student workers
Participates in the development, interpretation, and implementation of research methodology and materials
Reviews, analyzes, and interprets data and/or documents results for presentations and/or reporting to internal and external audiences