Research Lab Manager 1

Department: MED-Psych & Behavioral Science
Salary/Grade: EXS/6

Job Summary:

Manages daily operations of a new academic neurotechnology lab focused on targeting brain stimulation technologies using functional neuroimaging for therapeutics in mental health. At first this will include learning the day-to-day procedures of the lab, and eventually will include managing a growing team of research assistants. This will also involve assisting the Principal Investigator (PI) with organizational/regulatory tasks, including IRB proposals, funding applications, project management, staff management, and time management.

Tasks include recruiting participants for research studies, administering transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) treatments in clinical trials, administering behavioral phenotyping to participants with intracranial implants, processing neuroimaging data using computational pipelines on high-performance computing infrastructure, and maintaining regulatory compliance

The lab manager additionally monitors lab performance, analyzes and reviews results, and supervises development and implementation of new protocols. Assigns work and supervises lab personnel and reviews technical operations ensuring that all processes, protocols and procedures are quality controlled and functioning up to standards.

Develops implements and administers budgets, grant and administrative procedures. Co-authors scientific papers for presentation and publication and coordinates writing, submission and administration of grants.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Manages technical operations of a lab involved in scientific research activities.
• In consultation with Principal Investigator (PI) organizes and plans studies ensuring those project objectives are attained.
• Oversees and guides lab staff in review of results and recommendation of changes to protocols to improve validity and accuracy.
• Conducts more complex experiments and analysis.
• Using an advanced level of skill, completes the following activities

Molecular Biology:

• DNA, RNA, Protein isolation, purification and expression Southern, Northern, Western blotting
• PCR, RT-PCR
• Plasmid preparation
• Cloning, mapping and sequencing of DNA Recombinant virus production and purification

Immunology:

• Flow cytometry ELISA, Elispot assay Cytokine assay
• Antibody production and purification

Cellular Biology:

• Cell culture, cell isolation Functional studies Transfection

Histology:

• Tissue fixation/processing: embedding, preparation of blocks and sectioning, staining Immunohistochemistry
• Microscopy

Animal:

• Husbandry
• Breeding and screening transgenic mice Dissections
• Blood collection Surgical procedures
• Database management of colony

Other (please specify):

• Transcranial magnetic stimulation Behavioral phenotyping
• Neuroimaging analysis

Administration

• Oversees and manages collection, maintenance, analysis and evaluation of data that will be used in grant submissions, presentations and publications.
• Ensures that information is entered correctly into databases.
• Assists PI in reviewing, analyzing, interpreting, summarizing, formatting, editing, and preparing tables, charts, graphs, progress and final reports, etc.
• Coordinates between sponsoring agencies, collaboration organizations and/or other research and/or educational institutions.
• Ensures research regulations are adhered to, IRB and ACUC approvals in place, material transfer agreements properly executed, and that radiation and lab safety requirements are up to date and implemented.

Finance

• Manages lab budget and inventory including purchasing of supplies and services ensuring that they are necessary, reasonable and project related.
• Orders and maintains inventory of lab supplies, chemicals, equipment and instrumentation and may distribute intra-departmental charges.
• Negotiates with vendors, obtain quotes and arrange for demos of large equipment.

Supervision

• Trains, directs, assigns duties to & supervises lab EEs, students, residents &/or fellows.
• Provides instruction to lab users on technically complex procedures, equipment & instruments.
• Typically manages a lab budget of $1,000,000-$3,000,000; 1,000 - 3,000 nasf of space & supervises 5-15 lab members.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in a scientific major or related; OR appropriate combination of education and experience and 6 years' lab/bench or other relevant experience required; OR
• Successful completion of a full course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a master's or higher degree in a scientific major or related; OR appropriate combination of education and experience and 4 years' lab/bench or other relevant experience.
• Supervisory or project management experience required.
• Experience with clinical research

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Project management skills
• Strong interpersonal skills, comfortable interacting with patients with neuropsychiatric disorders
• Knowledge of fundamental principles of neuroscience and/or psychology
• Proficiency in data analysis

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience in clinical trial management, with knowledge of IRB, patient recruitment, budgets, treatment delivery, and related issues.
• Prior experience with administering transcranial magnetic stimulation or other clinical therapeutic technologies
• Prior experience with computational neuroimaging, particularly resting-state functional MRI analysis

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Proficiency in principles of clinical research
• Delivery of neuronavigated TMS treatments
• Data analysis in MATLAB and/or Python

Target hiring range for this position will be between $56,780.00 - $73,200 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Benefits:

At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful and competitive benefits. The available benefits package for this position will include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; paid vacation and holidays; paid medical/sick and parental leave; tuition benefits for the employee and dependents; pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care; generous retirement savings options; and wellness programs. For a comprehensive overview of available benefits, including eligibility details, visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.

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