Laboratory Manager / Research Assistant II

Michigan State University’s Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory—a joint program of the Departments of Fisheries & Wildlife and Pathobiology & Diagnostic Investigation—seeks a Laboratory Manager to lead daily operations in an internationally recognized center for fish health and aquatic-animal disease ecology research.

About the role

This is a leadership position within a dynamic team that integrates cutting-edge research, aquatic-animal health diagnostics, and fisheries stock enhancement and conservation. The role is ideal for a highly organized, motivated professional who is passionate about aquatic-animal health and enjoys managing complex laboratory operations that support fisheries, aquaculture, and aquatic-animal health research and diagnostics.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates and oversees laboratory research and diagnostic operations (30%)
  • Schedules fish-health inspections and other diagnostic submissions.
  • Organizes laboratory-staff schedules for necropsy, sample transportation, sample processing, and diagnostic-assay performance.
  • Oversees daily laboratory operational needs, including inventory and ordering of supplies.
  • Oversees routine maintenance and troubleshooting of laboratory instruments and equipment to ensure proper functioning, accuracy, and compliance with written specifications.
  • Instructs laboratory staff in correcting equipment malfunctions and approaches to troubleshooting.
• Acts as a resource/contact person for research projects, experiments, diagnostics, and health certifications (30%)
  • Compiles and summarizes results; participates in preparing reports.
  • Collects and organizes records; develops and manages databases of laboratory clients, test results, cases, samples, reagents, and projects.
  • Serves as a resource for external technicians and biologists collecting samples for health testing; provides health and testing reports.
• Plans and coordinates execution of laboratory priorities and logistics (15%)
  • Assists in interviewing, hiring, training, and reviewing the performance of students and support staff; approves hours for payroll.
  • Submits and manages travel approvals and reimbursements for students and staff regarding lab-related travel and expenses.
  • Assists the Principal Investigator in implementing departmental and university operating policies and procedures to ensure compliance with relevant institutional and regulatory-agency requirements.
• Manages financial and administrative duties (10%)
  • Manages accurate financial records, balances account ledgers, invoices clients, and follows fiscal regulations for personnel and laboratory needs.
  • Assists with preparation of manuscripts and materials for dissemination of laboratory findings.
  • Provides written progress reports for laboratory projects.
• Designs and maintains life-support systems for cool- and cold-water fish species (10%)
  • Manages oversight of wet-lab space housing research fish in compliance with IACUC requirements.
• Participates in field and laboratory work (5%)
  • Participates in field work, fish necropsies, and sample collection and processing for research or diagnostic purposes.
  • Performs and assists in oversight of experimental/diagnostic assays; records, analyzes, and interprets data to support research projects and laboratory diagnostics.

Requirements

• Knowledge equivalent to that normally acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in Natural Resources, Microbiology, Fisheries Biology, biological sciences, or a related field.
• Three to five years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in overseeing research projects and laboratory operations, operating and maintaining a variety of laboratory equipment, performing specialized and difficult analytical and research techniques, and designing research experiments in an area related to the research being performed.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute for the above.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree or higher in microbiology, fisheries biology, natural resources, veterinary sciences, biological sciences, or a related field.
• One to two years of laboratory experience in microbiology and/or laboratory diagnostics is preferred.
• Experience with creation and maintenance of aquatic-animal housing systems.
• Operational experience managing budgets, inventory, and laboratory supply chains.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, and a proven track record of working well with others to accomplish desired goals and objectives.
• Self-starter who pays attention to detail and is capable of overseeing multiple simultaneous tasks and objectives.
• Proficiency in MS Office.

Pay

Budgeted at an annual salary of $57,500; final salary commensurate with the selected candidate’s qualifications and experience.

Schedule

Typical working hours are between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., and will vary to include early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed (subject to call-back in case of laboratory need and/or urgent response situations).

About the Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory

Michigan State University is at the forefront of aquatic-animal health with a regional effort devoted to the research of infectious and noninfectious diseases of aquatic animals, particularly those affecting fish of the Laurentian Great Lakes Basin. Aquatic-animal health research, service, and outreach is interdepartmental, bridging the Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation at the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The faculty and laboratories involved offer a variety of diagnostic and health-certification services for publicly and privately managed aquatic-animal facilities.

This is an off-date position funded for one year from date of hire, with extension contingent upon funding renewal.