Research Specialist, Spatial & Genome Technologies

About the role

Hiring Department: OVCR - Research Resources Center (RRC)
Location: Chicago, IL
Requisition ID: 1041864
Posting Close Date: August 14, 2026
Salary: The budgeted salary range for the position is $70,000 - $80,000. The final salary offered will be determined by a thorough assessment of available market data, internal salary equity, candidate experience and qualifications, and budget constraints.

Responsibilities

• Perform genomic profiling workflows, including bulk RNA sequencing, single-cell genomics, and single-nucleus genomics.
  • Evaluation of RNA, cell, and nuclei quality and quantity, accurate counting of dissociated cells and nuclei, operation of the Chromium System, construction of single-cell libraries and conducting library quality assessments (QA) using automated electrophoresis systems.
  • Conduct imaging-based spatial genomics workflows, including operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of the Xenium System, preparation and processing of samples, execution of Xenium runs, and monitoring of data quality and project deliverables.
  • Conduct sequencing-based spatial genomic workflows, including operation of the of the CytAssist platform, Visium library construction, and library (QA).
• Cook up laboratory operations, including inventory management, creation of project records, preparation and organization of reagents and consumables, and coordination of materials for bulk RNAseq, single-cell, and spatial genomics projects.
• Oversee routine maintenance of laboratory equipment, ensuring compliance with established procedures and documentation standards.
• Collaborate with technical support teams to troubleshoot and resolve instrument issues and workflow failures.
• Collaborate and communicate effectively with laboratory staff to prioritize workloads, allocate resources, monitor project progress, and coordinate workflows to ensure projects are completed according to established timelines and quality standards.
• Train employees and student workers on laboratory protocols, benchwork techniques, and laboratory safety procedures.

Qualifications

• B.S. degree in molecular biology, genetics, genomics, biochemistry, bioinformatics, life sciences or a related field.
  Minimum of 3 years of laboratory experience supporting genomic, molecular biology, single-cell, and/or spatial omics workflows.
• Demonstrated experience operating, troubleshooting and maintaining laboratory instrumentation and associated software used in genomics research.
• Hands-on experience with next-generation sequencing (NGS) workflows, including nucleic acid extraction, PCR, library preparation and quality control.
• Experience with experimental design, sample preparation and quality assurance processes for genomic, single-cell or spatial omics studies.
• Familiarity with single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), spatial transcriptomics or related omics technologies.
• Ability to work independently while effectively collaborating with multidisciplinary research teams.
• Strong organizational, communication, and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities.

Preferred Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. degree in molecular biology, genomics, bioinformatics, biochemistry or a related field.
• Direct experience with single-cell and spatial omics platforms, including 10x Genomics Chromium, Visium, Xenium or related technologies.
• Experience with spatial biology technologies such as multiplexed in situ hybridization, imaging-based spatial profiling or sequencing-based spatial transcriptomics.
• Knowledge of bioinformatics tools and analytical workflows for single-cell and spatial omics data analysis.
• Experience working in an academic core facility, shared resource laboratory, biotechnology company or similar research support environment.
• Familiarity with cloud-based computing environments, high-performance computing resources and genomic data management practices.