Research Lab Manager - Radiology

Location: St. Louis, MO 63110 | Scheduled Hours: 40

About the role

We invite applications for a full-time Research Lab Manager to join the laboratory of Dr. Patricia Pereira. Our research program includes molecular imaging, antibody engineering, cancer biology, drug development, and translational work to develop and translate next-generation imaging agents and targeted therapeutics for cancer and other disease applications. The Research Lab Manager will play a central role in the day-to-day operation of the laboratory and contribute scientifically across the lab’s NIH-funded and other externally sponsored research projects. The position offers opportunities for scientific leadership, mentorship, career development, and close interaction with the PI, trainees, and collaborators within a highly productive, multidisciplinary research environment.

Responsibilities

• With principal investigator, designs, performs, and evaluates research procedures.
• Assists with grant preparation and journal article submission.
• Develops and implements policies and procedures.
• Provides comprehensive direction to laboratory personnel, including hiring, training, and evaluating performance.
• Oversees and directs all support activities of the lab including budgets, facility maintenance, purchasing, supplies, materials, and equipment.
• Researches and recommends new methods and procedures to maintain current capabilities, quality, and standards.
• Serves as contact between the PI, laboratory members, and collaborators to facilitate communication and project coordination.
• Coordinates day-to-day laboratory operations and ensures efficient management of personnel, resources, equipment, and research workflows.
• Assists in the planning, design, implementation, and coordination of multidisciplinary research studies and laboratory operations in molecular imaging, cancer biology, antibody engineering, radiochemistry, and targeted therapeutics.
• Assists the PI with project timelines, milestones, and deliverables for NIH-funded and other externally sponsored research projects.
• Supports the preparation, submission, and management of grant applications, NIH progress reports, peer-reviewed manuscripts, and other research-related documents to ensure compliance with NIH policies, institutional regulations, and sponsor reporting requirements.
• Works with PI to oversee laboratory compliance with institutional, federal, and funding agency policies.
• Prepares, maintains, and coordinates regulatory documentation, including Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), chemical safety, radiation safety, and radiochemistry protocols.
• Coordinates laboratory safety training and maintains compliance records for laboratory personnel.
• Oversees laboratory inventory, orders (including reagents, equipment, mice, radioactive material), purchasing, equipment maintenance, and organization to ensure efficient laboratory operations.
• Works with PI to monitor laboratory data management practices to ensure compliance with institutional, NIH, and sponsor requirements, including secure data storage, documentation, record retention, and reproducible research practices.
• Coordinates with institutional core facilities (including radiochemistry, cyclotron, imaging, animal, and other shared research cores) to facilitate project execution and support the translation of novel molecular imaging agents and targeted therapeutics from preclinical studies toward clinical application.
• Develops, implements, and maintains laboratory policies, workflows, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to promote efficiency, safety, regulatory compliance, and research reproducibility.
• Assists the PI with laboratory budget planning and monitoring, including expenditures, grant allocations, purchasing, and resource utilization.
• Contributes scientifically to laboratory projects through experimental design, execution, troubleshooting, and data interpretation.
• Performs and oversees molecular biology, cell biology, animal studies, radiochemistry, imaging, and other laboratory techniques as appropriate.
• Assists with data analysis, figure preparation, manuscript development, conference abstracts, and scientific presentations.
• Maintains accurate laboratory records and ensures research is conducted according to rigorous scientific and reproducibility standards.
• Mentors lab personnel in laboratory techniques, experimental design, scientific writing, and professional development as appropriate.
• Supervises laboratory personnel, including hiring, onboarding, training, mentoring, scheduling, and performance evaluation.
• Coordinates interactions with collaborators internally and with external academic, clinical, and industry collaborators.
• Represents the laboratory at scientific meetings, institutional seminars, and collaborative project meetings as appropriate.

Working Conditions

Works in a laboratory environment with potential exposure to biological and chemical hazards. Must be physically able to wear protective equipment and to provide standard care to research animals.

Requirements

• Master’s degree or combination of education and/or experience may substitute for minimum education.
• 5 years of research laboratory operations experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing research laboratories, personnel, and NIH-funded projects in a collaborative biomedical research environment.
• Experience in an NIH-funded translational biomedical research laboratory with demonstrated success in laboratory management, regulatory compliance, personnel supervision, grant and manuscript preparation, and coordination with institutional core facilities.
• Skills: Analytical Problem Solving, Communication, Leadership, Organizing, Prioritization, Regulatory Compliance.

Pay

Salary range: $63,400.00 - $115,000.00 annually.

Benefits

• Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.
• Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.
• Free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.
• Defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, with university contributions starting at 7%.
• Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, and access to dietitians.
• 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with a new child.
• Family care resources for childcare and adult care needs.
• Tuition coverage for employees and their families, including 100% undergraduate tuition at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years of employment.