Research Associate 1 - Laboratory Manager

About the role

The Cnidarian Immunity Laboratory at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science is seeking a Research Associate 1 to serve as the laboratory manager. This individual will oversee the day-to-day scientific operations of the lab, manage equipment and supplies, keep the lab organized and compliant, train students in core bench techniques, and troubleshoot problems as they arise. It is a hands‑on role suited to someone who likes variety, takes ownership of a space, and enjoys teaching. The University of Miami is recognized as one of the nation’s premier research institutions and academic health systems and is among the largest employers in South Florida.

Responsibilities

• Equipment management. Maintain, calibrate, and troubleshoot lab equipment; coordinate service contracts and repairs; keep usage and maintenance records current.
• Lab organization. Organize lab space, reagents, samples, and freezer inventories; establish and maintain systems that keep shared resources findable and functional.
• Ordering and purchasing. Order supplies and reagents, track budgets and expenditures, manage vendor relationships, and process purchasing paperwork with departmental and University systems.
• Training and mentorship. Train and supervise undergraduate researchers and new lab members in cell culture, molecular biology, and general lab skills; oversee onboarding and safety training.
• Troubleshooting. Diagnose and resolve technical problems with protocols, instruments, and experiments; serve as the first point of contact when something goes wrong.
• Safety and compliance. Maintain chemical and biological safety compliance, waste disposal, and required documentation in coordination with University EH&S.
• Research support. Support ongoing projects at the bench, including sample processing, cell culture, nucleic acid extraction, and assay development as needed.

Requirements

Required Qualifications:

• B.S. in biology, marine biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, or a related field.
• Two years of hands‑on laboratory experience preferred.
• Demonstrated proficiency in cell and molecular biology techniques — for example cell culture, microscopy, nucleic acid extraction, PCR/qPCR, gel electrophoresis, and library or sample preparation.
• Strong time‑management skills and the ability to prioritize and advance multiple tasks in parallel without losing track of details.
• A collaborative approach to work and the ability to supervise, teach, and motivate undergraduate students.
• Flexibility and availability to respond when urgent problems arise — equipment failures, live‑animal or culture emergencies, or time‑sensitive experiments.
• The ability to learn new techniques, instruments, and systems quickly and independently.
• Clear written and verbal communication, and comfort with recordkeeping and documentation.

Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience managing or coordinating an academic research laboratory.
• Experience with marine invertebrates, aquarium or live‑animal husbandry, or field sampling.
• Familiarity with genomics workflows, flow cytometry, or single‑cell methods.
• Basic computational skills (R, Python, or command‑line) for data organization and quality control.
• Experience with university purchasing systems, grant budgets, or IACUC/EH&S compliance.

Job Status: Full time; Employee Type: Staff.