Research Lab Specialist Associate

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.

Please include contact information for 2 professional references. This is a one (1) year limited position through August 2024 with possibility of renewal.
Summary

The Wigginton and Eisenberg Labs (PIs: Krista Wigginton & Marisa Eisenberg, http://www-personal.umich.edu/~marisae/) are part the

State of Michigan SARS-CoV-2 Epidemiology - Wastewater Evaluation and Reporting Network, (SEWER) to quantify SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater. We are currently focused on processing samples from five different wastewater treatment plants across the state of Michigan as part of the larger SEWER network for a streamlined spatially robust monitoring network covering much of the state of Michigan.

We are looking to bring on a full-time research technician (100% time regular staff position; 40hrs/wk) to support different aspects of work in the lab. Work will be conducted at both North (EWRE) and Central (SPH) campuses at the University of Michigan. The primary role of these positions will be lab-based, focused on extracting and concentrating field-collected samples and then running those samples through ddPCR. Duties require molecular lab experience and an ability to work well with others.
Finally, the Wigginton and Eisenberg labs are committed to public outreach, and as such the position will also include contributions to outreach efforts either through active engagement. This would include responsibilities such as communicating with local shareholders (wastewater treatment plants, county health departments, other SEWER Network labs, etc.) and the preparation of regular reports and data-sharing (regular reports to shareholders, maintaining a web-based dashboard with our data, etc.).
Who We Are

Michigan Engineers are world-class educators, researchers, students and staff who strive to build a people-first future. As part of a top national public research institution, Michigan Engineering's mission is to provide scientific and technological leadership to the people of the world, develop intellectually curious and socially conscious minds, create collaborative solutions to societal problems, and promote an inclusive and innovative community of service for the common good.
Our vision, mission and values are supported by a people-first engineering framework that guides our work. As Michigan Engineers, we strive to apply excellent engineering fundamentals, integrated expertise and equity-centered values to reimagine what engineering can be, close critical gaps, and elevate all people. Information about our vision, mission and values can be found at:

http://strategicvision.engin.umich.edu/

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The University of Michigan has a storied legacy of commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). Michigan Engineering models that commitment in our research, culture and collaborations. We seek to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as a reflection of that commitment. Learn more about DEI at Michigan Engineering:

https://www.engin.umich.edu/culture/diversity-equity-inclusion/
The School of Public Health and the College of Engineering seek to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as a reflection of our commitments to serve the diverse people of Michigan, fulfill the College's Guiding Principles, and sustain the excellence of the University of Michigan.
In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, The University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:
Generous time off
A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
Life insurance
Long-term disability coverage
Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses
Maternity and Parental Leave
Responsibilities*

Sample processing, lab management, and lab maintenance (80%) The primary responsibility of this position is to extract, concentrate, and quantify wastewater samples for SARS-CoV-2 quantification.

There is also the possibility of contributing to other virus-related research projects on our teams.

This position requires molecular lab experience. Other duties include performing monthly lab inspections, oversee the cleaning and maintenance of equipment, act as the primary resource for lab safety management, oversee undergraduates in basic lab maintenance tasks and lab safety, and be responsible for ordering research and laboratory supplies and maintaining appropriate databases.
Data management (10%) The applicant will have responsibilities that include some data management, uploading results to our cloud storage, and disseminating results to the group (see below), and possibly running R scripts for visualization,.
Lab meetings & communication of results (10%) Our research team has a weekly lab meeting to discuss sample processing and future directions. The applicant will be expected to communicate results of ddPCR runs to our group, send updates to our community partners, perform various computational projects to support research in the lab, and aid in other public outreach efforts.
Required Qualifications*

Bachelor's degree in engineering, epidemiology, chemistry, or biology (broadly defined) with significant wet lab experience, including molecular methods
Willingness to work as part of a team
Desired Qualifications*

Experience working with environmental samples
Some flexibility with working hours – running a large ddPCR plate can take 8-9 hours so a day that starts at 8am isn’t uncommon
Experience coding in R
Additional Information

This is a one (1) year limited position through August 2024 with possibility of renewal based on funding extension.
The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third-party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checksare performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process maybegin as early as the eighth day after posting.Thisopening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.
U-M EEO/AA Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

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