Research Specialist II - Touil Lab - Department of Neurology

Job Description

Grow your career at Cedars-Sinai!

Cedars-Sinai offers a culture of happiness, passion, and dedication. This is one of the many reasons why we rank as one of the top hospitals in California and in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.

Dr. Hanane Touil invites you to consider this outstanding opportunity with her team.

About the Team

The laboratory of Dr. Touil is part of the Department of Neurology and Biomedical Sciences at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. Dr. Touil leads a translational neuro-immunology research program that integrates rigorous functional neuro-immune assays with ground breaking computational approaches to investigate disease mechanisms underlying neuro-immunological disorders.

Her research focuses on Multiple Sclerosis (MS), compartmentalized inflammation, and the physiological signatures of immunosenescence during neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, and aging. The overarching goal of the laboratory is to identify early biomarkers associated with prognosis, treatment response, and disease progression in order to advance early diagnosis and precision medicine strategies aimed at halting disease progression.

About the Role

The Research Specialist II applies a solid foundation in research and experience with techniques associated with a specific area of research. Incumbent will be capable of exercising independent judgment while leading and coordinating established research programs, project planning, enrollment of patients, experimental protocols and procedures, database development and analysis including evaluating and interpreting results. The incumbent will participate in and may lead and train lab activities including but not limited to: research grant management, human resources, responsibility delegation, and provide training to other individuals who may be assigned to the project, study, or laboratory. Will have delegated authority under the direction of the principal investigator to make substantive decisions and commitments in accordance with the established goals and objectives of the laboratory or program. Leads and trains on others on lab activities.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Applies scientific expertise to current and future projects while interacting with sponsors, collaborators, clinical research personnel and researchers as part of a research team.
• Takes initiative and acts as project lead under close direction of Principal Investigator.
• Participates in all aspects of clinical development and study management (protocol design, enrollment of patients, development and implementation of protocols, and if applicable, submission of IRB applications and approvals).
• Follows established procedures or protocols to perform increasingly complex laboratory tests and/or experiments. May act as point of escalation for laboratory staff.
• Prepares publications and presentations, writes and prepares grant proposals and coordinates application and submission process.
• Operates lab computers for data entry and maintains accurate data records for assigned research projects.
• Uses various software applications, such as spreadsheets, electronic mail, World Wide Web, statistical packages, and graphics packages to assemble, manipulate and/or format data and/or test reports.
• Operates appropriate laboratory equipment. Monitors inventory levels, orders materials and supplies.
• Acts as a scientific expert for the affiliated pre-clinical research laboratory (e.g., assisted with experimental designs, data analysis, interpretation of scientific literature).
• Identify and resolve increasingly complicated problems involved in research assays.
• Establishes and maintains relationships with clinical investigators and manages internal and external collaborative research projects.
• Exercises independent scientific judgment while leading and coordinating the planning of current and future experiments and evaluating and interpreting results.
• Will function as a bridge between research and clinical programs which may have local and national contributors and investigators relying on information provided.
• Maintains awareness and timely execution of progress reports required by sponsors, safety boards, and/or supervising teams when applicable.
• Leads and trains Research Lab Assistants, Research Associates and/or other laboratory personnel.

Qualifications

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences, Chemistry, or related field is required.
• 5 years of experience in area of research specialty.
• Experience in translational biomedical research.
• Knowledge of biostatistics as it is applied to clinical trial data analysis, preferred.