UNIV - Research Specialist II - Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology

Research Specialist II position in Dr. Sungjin Ko’s laboratory at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), focusing on liver diseases, regeneration, and cancer.

About the role

The individual will work under the supervision of the Principal Investigator (PI) to conduct routine experiments and maintain a basic biomedical science laboratory. Key responsibilities include transgenic mouse colony establishment and maintenance, embryonic and adult mouse histology and immunohistochemistry, light microscope imaging, preparation of solutions and reagents, equipment sterilization, and basic cell/tissue culture. The role supports research aimed at identifying anti-liver cancer signaling factors during liver damage repair.

Responsibilities

• Design and plan routine experiments, including optimization of daily experimental protocols, selection, and ordering of reagents and lab supplies. Percent of Total Time: 30% - Essential
• Share responsibility for mouse husbandry, including transgenic mouse colony breeding, maintenance, and expansion. Percent of Total Time: 20% - Essential
• Perform histology and immunohistochemistry, including tissue collection, processing, embedding, sectioning, staining, and imaging. Percent of Total Time: 30% - Essential
• Conduct basic molecular biology and biochemistry experiments: DNA isolation, genotyping, real-time PCR, western blotting. Percent of Total Time: 20% - Essential
• Maintain accurate and timely experimental records.
• Assist the PI in selecting and ordering reagents.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biology, or other natural, life, or health care science.
• One year of work experience directly related to the assigned research area.
• Ability to work with animals (mouse).
• Supervised by the PI but expected to conduct experiments, collect, and record data with a decent level of independence and discretion.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, or other life science.
• Strong organizational, record-keeping, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Experience with laboratory techniques including animal husbandry, PCR, recombinant DNA work, western blotting, cell culture, histology, immunostaining, and microscopic imaging.
• Prior experience in lab management roles.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to perform job functions in an upright position. Frequent
• Ability to perform job functions in a seated position. Continuous
• Ability to perform job functions while walking/mobile. Frequent
• Ability to climb using a step stool. Infrequent
• Ability to work in temperature extremes (32°F to 100°F) when required. Infrequent
• Ability to work in confined/cramped spaces. Continuous
• Ability to bend and twist at the waist. Frequent
• Ability to fully use both hands/arms and both legs. Continuous/Frequent
• Ability to perform repetitive motions with hands/wrists/elbows and shoulders. Frequent
• Ability to reach in all directions, stretch, bend while moving items/materials from sitting and standing positions. Frequent
• Ability to maintain good olfactory sensory function/distinction. Continuous
• Ability to lift materials up to 20 lbs., unassisted. Infrequent
• Ability to lift and carry 4-liter waste material bottles a distance of 30 feet, unassisted. Frequent
• Ability to lift and carry 25-30 lbs. jugs of liquid a distance of 100 feet, unassisted. Infrequent
• Ability to lift file boxes from floor level to countertops, unassisted. Frequent
• Ability to push/lift 40 lbs. centrifuge rotors from floor level to height of 40 inches, then down 20 inches into centrifuge drum, unassisted. Infrequent
• Ability to lift 25 lbs. boxes from floor level to a maximum height of 72 inches, unassisted. Infrequent
• Ability to push/pull file boxes from one location to another at floor level. Frequent
• Ability to maneuver heavy equipment on bench tops, 50 lbs. or greater, unassisted. Frequent
• Ability to perform gross motor functions with frequent fine motor movements. Continuous
• Ability to maintain 20/40 vision, corrected, in one eye or with both eyes. Continuous
• Ability to match or discriminate between colors, normally. Continuous
• Ability to hear and recognize various alarms emitting from work area systems. Continuous
• Ability to hear and/or understand conversations. Continuous
• Ability to work in a darkroom for processing film. Continuous
• Ability to be qualified physically for respirator use, initially and annually. Continuous

Pay

Hourly pay range: $45,300.00 - $61,100.00 - $77,000.00 annually.

Schedule

• Scheduled weekly hours: 40
• Ability to work rotating shifts as required.
• Ability to work overtime as required.