A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

An exciting opportunity has been created for an experienced researcher to join the Alumkal Laboratory (https://alumkal.lab.medicine.umich.edu/) at the U of M Division of Heme-Onc and the Rogel Cancer Center in Ann Arbor, MI. The individual will join as a Research Lab Specialist Senior and work directly with Dr. Joshi Alumkal, Leader of the U of M Prostate/Genitourinary Oncology Cancer Section.  He/she will be an integral member of a research team whose focus is epigenetics and drug resistance in prostate cancer, and will be responsible for managing all phases of complex in vivo research projects, including project design and procedure.  This individual must be proficient in rodent surgery, including xenograft tumor implantation in mice.

Our laboratory focuses on identifying mechanisms by which key chromatin modifying enzymes and chromatin readers drive transcription of pathways that promote treatment resistance. We use genomics studies in prostate cancer clinical samples and prostate cancer cell line model systems and functional studies to understand this process. Our goal is to develop new, targeted treatment strategies for men with advanced prostate cancer.

This individual will be responsible for managing laboratory operations, including: regulatory aspects such as IBC and IACUC; equipment maintenance and service contracts; and project management involving sample coordination, shipping, and processing.  Ordering supplies, inventorying, and unpacking deliveries are also important responsibilities. A candidate with in vivo experience, including mouse xenograft tumor implantation surgery, injections, and gavage, is strongly preferred. This individual may also carry out experiments in the laboratory, including protein and RNA expression and purification from mammalian cells and bacteria, QPCR, Western blotting, tissue culture of mammalian cell lines and transfection.

In Vivo Project Leader: Manages all phases of the lab's complex in vivo studies, coordinates development of research goals and project design. Maintains mouse breeding colony, performs mouse tumor growth experiments with xenograft implantation surgery. Supervises and provides technical assistance to lab personnel performing drug injections, drug gavage, and tumor measurements.  

Responsible for the day to day operations of the lab, including sample coordination, processing, storage and inventory management, and shipping for some studies. Orders and stocks supplies, maintains equipment, in charge of submitting and maintaining regulatory approvals (IACUC, IRB, IBC) related to our projects.

Performs additional duties assigned by the PI, such as writing portions of research proposals, co-authoring research publications, cell culture, molecular biology techniques including: DNA/RNA/protein extraction, QPCR, and Western blots, etc. 

Research Lab Sepcialist Intermediate: 

• Bachelors degree required and 4-5 years experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted, including relevant undergraduate and graduate student experience

Research Lab Specialist Senior:

• Bachelors degree required and 5-6 years experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted, including relevant undergraduate and graduate student experience

Both:

• Strong organizational and multi-tasking skills.
• Excellent teamwork and communication skills.
• Knowledge and understanding of laboratory safety and ability to work carefully with potentially harmful agents.
• Responsible for ensuring lab documentation is up to date for safety inspections.
• Ability and willingness to learn and implement novel experimental techniques.
• Must be proficient with computers running Windows and PC applications (e.g. MS Excel, Word and PowerPoint).

• Masters Degree or Doctoral Degree desired but not required
• Previous lab management skills are strongly preferred.
• Prior experience with writing and maintaining IACUC and IBC protocols are strongly preferred.
• Proficiency with mammalian cell culture and with molecular biology techniques such as RT-PCR, western blotting, cloning, and reporter gene analysis is preferred.
• Rodent handling experience, including injection and/or gavage treatment, is preferred.

This position may be underfilled at a lower classification depending on the qualifications of the selected candidate.

Michigan Medicine conducts background screening and pre-employment drug testing on job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent job offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background screenings.  Background screenings are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Report Act. Pre-employment drug testing applies to all selected candidates, including new or additional faculty and staff appointments, as well as transfers from other U-M campuses.

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.  The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.

About University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

A great university is made so by its faculty and staff, and Michigan is recognized as one of the best universities to work for in the country. The Michigan culture is known for engaging faculty and staff in all facets of the university to create a workplace that is vibrant and stimulating.For two consecutive years, the Chronicle of Higher Education has placed U-M in its "Great Colleges to Work For" survey. In particular, the university earns high marks for strong relations between faculty and administrators, a collaborative system of governance, strong pay and benefits, and a healthy work/life balance.

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