Genetics - 423501

Research Professionals

03/27/2024

04/02/2024

Temporary Staff (SHRA)

Research Specialist (Liu Lab)

20062953

S022876

Full-Time Temporary

40

North Carolina, US

18.00 - 25.00

04/22/2024

6 months not to exceed 11 months

The UNC School of Medicine has a rich tradition of excellence and care. Our mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of North Carolinians, and others whom we serve. We accomplish this by providing leadership and excellence in the interrelated areas of patient care, education, and research. We strive to promote faculty, staff, and learner development in a diverse, respectful environment where our colleagues demonstrate professionalism, enhance learning, and create personal and professional sustainability. We optimize our partnership with the UNC Health System through close collaboration and commitment to service.
OUR VISION
Our vision is to be the nation’s leading public school of medicine. We are ranked 2nd in primary care education among all US schools of medicine and 5th among public peers in NIH research funding. Our Allied Health Department is home to five top-ranked divisions, and we are home to 18 top-ranked clinical and basic science departments in NIH research funding.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to improve the health and well-being of North Carolinians and others whom we serve. We accomplish this by providing leadership and excellence in the interrelated areas of patient care, education, and research.
Patient Care: We will promote health and provide superb clinical care while maintaining our strong tradition of reaching underserved populations and reducing health disparities across North Carolina and beyond.
Education: We will prepare tomorrow’s health care professionals and biomedical researchers by facilitating learning within innovative curricula and team-oriented interprofessional education. We will cultivate outstanding teaching and research faculty, and we will recruit outstanding students and trainees from highly diverse backgrounds to create a socially responsible, highly skilled workforce.
Research: We will develop and support a rich array of outstanding health sciences research programs, centers, and resources. We will provide infrastructure and opportunities for collaboration among disciplines throughout and beyond our University to support outstanding research. We will foster programs in the areas of basic, translational, mechanistic, and population research.

The primary purpose of this position is to serve as Research Specialist for the UNC Department of Genetics in the laboratory of Dr. Qingyun Liu. The Liu laboratory investigates the genetic basis underlying antibiotic resistance and pathogenicity of bacterial pathogens, including M. tuberculosis and M. abscesses, among others. Our research strategy involves utilizing bacterial genomes of clinical isolates to identify mutations underlying evolving traits, such as antibiotic resistance, transmissibility, and virulence. Subsequently, we employ cutting-edge experimental microbiology methods to dissect the mechanisms responsible for these evolved traits. Through these endeavors, we aim to uncover bacterial processes that can be targeted for the development of new vaccines, therapeutics, and public health intervention strategies.
This Research Specialist position will have two components:
(1) Lab manager – Expected to independently supervise/manage the entire laboratory setting to promote smooth operation, regulatory compliance, and effective interactions among members of the lab and interactions with other laboratories. This will include helping coordinate staff hiring, maintaining lab equipment, tools, and supplies (ordering), scheduling of inter- and intra-lab meetings & information sharing, coordinating summer internships/interns, maintaining lab model organisms (bacterial strains), biospecimens & reagents, and maintaining organization of protocols & large datasets.
(2) Experimental researcher – Expected to lead experiments/projects in their area of specialty (microbiology/molecular genetics/biology) and supervise the design & completion of complementary research projects performed by students in the Liu lab. This will include leading experimental planning, managing quality control of experimental procedures and troubleshooting technical problems, modifying & establishing new protocols for the lab based on protocols in the literature and conducting experiments with these protocols. They will be required to generate, analyze, and interpret data as well as provide draft figures and results sections for papers/grants within their area of expertise. This position will require the use of bacterial genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, and computational (bioinformatics & biostatistics) approaches in reference bacterial strains.

Bachelor’s degree in a discipline related to the area of assignment; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

The selected candidate must have understanding of basic biology, microbiology, and genetic principles. The selected candidate is expected to have aptitude for basic bioinformatic, molecular, and genetic procedures essential to carrying out a supervised research project.
The selected candidate must be capable of safely and properly operating basic laboratory equipment. The selected candidate must be able to maintain laboratory resources including supplies, chemicals, equipment, and facilities. Also, this candidate must be able to communicate clearly and effectively with others in the laboratory for the purpose of safety, training, supervision, and dissemination of findings.

Master’s or PhD level degree in Microbiology, Biology, Epidemiology, Genetics or related field.
Strong academic background in infectious disease, genomics and/or molecular biology.
The ability to understand the safe use of hazardous reagents/materials, centrifuges, spectrophotometers, pH meters, and fluorescent microscopes is preferred.
Experience in managing a lab and independently fulfilling the lab manager job duties.
Experience in performing molecular biology research (including PCR, library preparation, etc), animal handling and experimentation and interpreting and presenting data for publication or talks
Experience in reviewing the literature for relevant experimental procedures that can be adapted into new protocols for the lab.