UNIV - Research Specialist III - Pharmacology & Immunology

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Job Description

The selected candidate will be responsible for the maintenance and logistical organization of a basic science laboratory, with particular emphasis on helping the post-docs and staff scientist with breeding of animals and their murine models of leukemia and HCT. In addition, the candidate will help the PI performing ELISA on thousands of patients’ samples, and flow cytometry as well as analyze these data.

We seek a highly motivated individual with previous experience these technologies. 

Candidate should send CV and a list of three references directly to Dr. Sophie Paczesny by email (paczesns@musc.edu).

Key Responsibilities/ Percent Effort

The selected candidate will play a critical role in supporting the laboratory’s research mission and daily operations. Responsibilities and specific tasks will be as follows:

Perform routine handling of miceincluding monitoring, treatments, and experimental procedures) (20%). Assist with breeding, colony management, and genotyping of transgenic. Maintain accurate animal records and ensure compliance with institutional animal care and biosafety protocols. Assist with intravenous and intraperitoneal injections of novel therapeutics (cellular of antibody-based).

Perform immunologic experiments on murine models (e.g., harvest organ, digest, flow cytometry, confocal, etc) (20%). Immunology experimentation employing various techniques, including isolation and purification of T cells, and regulatory T cells. Sort T cells and other hematopoietic or immunes cells.

Perform isolation of cells, cell culture and in vitro functional assays (10%). Harvest murine organs, including spleen, liver, bone marrow, and lungs. Perform tissue digestion and preparation of single-cell suspensions. Perform isolation and purification of T cells, and regulatory T cells. Sort T cells and other hematopoietic or immunes cells. Maintain cell lines; viability, cytotoxicity assay; transfection and infection, etc. 

Prepare patients samples per lab good practice and perform immunologic experiments (e.g., high-throuput ELISA, flow cytometry, etc) (15%). These responsibilities include receiving or shipping samples, organizing them, and storing them in freezer following lab established freezer maps.Thaw precious plasma or PBMCs patients’ samples following rigorous protocols and perform sequential ELISA or flow cytometry and analysis.

Assist with daily lab operations including routine maintenance of and experimentation in mice (15%). The selected candidate will assist with daily lab operations including stocking consumable items and reagents, making buffers, and aliquoting reagents. Fill liquid nitrogen to keep frozen cells alive. Autoclave the biologic trash and prepare and maintain lab work (e.g., fill and autoclave tips, clean hood and incubator). Facilitate general maintenance of the research space by working with MUSC to ensure that the laboratory area is maintained and that repairs, waste disposal, and cleaning needs are addressed in a timely manner.

Records and analyzes results of research experiments (15%) Collect research experimental data and analyze results and generate figures.

Additional duties assigned by the Principal Investigator (5%). This will include helping refine or prepare lab protocols, maintain IBC and IACUC protocols up to date. Train new lab members for basic experiments.

MUSC Minimum Training and Experience Requirements:

A bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, or other natural, life or health care science directly related to the assigned area of research and two years advanced journel-level work experience in a clinical or research setting.

Must have previous experience in a laboratory. 

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Ideally a master’s in biology or immunology with at least 3 years of experience in this field.

Strong organizational, record keeping, interpersonal and communication skills required. Must be able to perform complex calculations, to follow complicated experimental procedures and methods and develop independence with tasks and experiments. Prior experience working with patients’ samples handling as well as mice handling, and flow cytometry is valued. Some weekend, holidays and/or evenings may be required.

Must be organized and have attention to details. All personnel are expected to maintain laboratory notebooks and store all the data in the lab shared drive.

Additional Job Description

If you like working with energetic enthusiastic individuals, you will enjoy your career with us!

The Medical University of South Carolina is an Equal Opportunity Employer. MUSC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, age, sex, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected veteran status, family or parental status, or any other status protected by state laws and/or federal regulations. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment based upon applicable qualifications, merit and business need.

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