Department Genetics - 423501 Career Area Research Professionals Posting Open Date 03/27/2024 Application Deadline 05/31/2024 Position Type Temporary Staff (SHRA) Position Title Research Specialist (Liu Lab) Position Number 20062953 Vacancy ID S022876 Full-time/Part-time Full-Time Temporary Hours per week 40 Work Schedule Position Location North Carolina, US Hiring Range 18.00 - 25.00 Proposed Start Date 08/19/2024 Estimated Duration of Appointment 6 months not to exceed 11 months Be a Tar Heel!
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Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit
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.
Position Summary
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.
Minimum Education and Experience Requirements
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.
Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience
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.
Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience
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.
Special Physical/Mental Requirements Campus Security Authority Responsibilities
Not Applicable.
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Office of Human Resources Contact Information
If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the Office of Human Resources at (919) 843-2300 or send an email to employment@unc.edu
Please note: The Office of Human Resources will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status.
Equal Opportunity Employer Statement
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, race, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran.
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