Sr Research Specialist

Responsibilities

• Provides direct research and teaching support at the senior professional level by taking charge of small, complex research projects or by directly participating in a major aspect of a larger research project.
• Guides or directly supervises technicians and undergraduate students.
• Works independently with only occasional suggestions in modifying, varying or adapting standard procedures in experiments related to culture of human embryonic stem cell and induced pluripotent stem cells for the generation of glial progenitor cells.
• Performs fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and Magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) analysis and sorting to meet the specific needs of lab research projects.
• Maintains cells in culture, ensures that cell and animal availability are coordinated and prepares cells for transplantation.
• Prepares cells from human and rodent brain tissues and cultured cells for Flow Cytometer and FACS.
• Runs BD FACSAria III cell sorter for experiments related to human or rodent neural progenitor cells and their progeny populations under supervision during the initial training period and independently operates and maintains the instrument after training.
• Operates the FACSAria III for other lab members and performs their flow cytometry and FACS.
• Evaluates the performance of research instruments and makes and/or recommends correctional design changes or develops new approaches for its use.
• Collaborates with investigators in writing protocols for the conduct of research which include: purposes of study, design of experiments, lists of materials and methods to be used and the schedule of activities.
• Aids faculty researchers in the design of research projects and in the preparation of research proposals.
• Prepares written reports and presentations on all ongoing projects, consisting of microscope pictures, analysis of flow cytometry data and statistical analyses of cell counts, which are used in the publication of articles.
• Assesses the importance of findings in relation to their projects based on interpretation of the results and adjusts plans for upcoming experiments.
• Informs staff (technicians and undergraduate students) of their responsibilities in the project.
• Teaches laboratory techniques and instrumentation procedures to graduate students and professional laboratory support staff.
• Counsels them on technical problems, advises and assists them with projects.
• Ensures that health and safety practices are maintained in accordance with University policy and the law, particularly standard lab safety procedures and UCAR/IBC guidelines.
• Keeps abreast of trends in field of interest by studying current research literature, abstracting scientific articles of value in the prosecution of research problems and by attending meetings, seminars and presenting research data.
• Independently operates cell culture-related equipment and microscopes in the Goldman Lab, with responsibility for developing critical research data.
• Coordinates service support: repair of equipment, requisitioning of supplies and research materials and minor construction.
• May recommend expenditures for equipment.
• Authorizes expenditure for expendable supplies and maintenance.
• Maintains contact with outside research laboratories, vendors and technical representatives concerning your project.
• Orients visitors to the laboratory.

Qualifications

• Minimum Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree required, Master's degree preferred; 5 years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience required.
• Knowledge, Skills And Abilities: Self-motivated and capable of working independently as well as in a collaborative setting required. Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including written communication required. Ability to readily learn new experimental techniques required. Strong analytical, communication, organizational and computer skills required.