LABORATORY RESEARCH ANALYST II

School of Medicine

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Job Description: Associate Research Laboratory Manager in the Garman Lab

In addition to primary responsibility for generation of patient-derived organoids, this person will provide oversight and assist the PI with managing the day to day operations of the research lab.

The Garman lab is a basic/translational lab that offers a dynamic, creative, collaborative research environment. We study injury, repair and carcinogenesis in the GI tract with a primary focus is on esophageal and gastric injury and repair. Our research has a firm grounding in human health and disease and relies on the use of well-annotated human samples across a spectrum of disease. In the lab, we use organoid models from porcine and human tissues to study mechanisms of repair and metaplasia. This position will primarily focus on generation of gastric organoids from gastric biopsies using a well-established protocol. The organoids can be generated from either fresh or cryopreserved samples. Dr. Garman oversees the biobanking efforts to enroll research participants and generate the organoids. In addition to generating, maintaining, and cryopreserving organoids, this role includes making and testing conditioned media, characterizing the organoids with imaging, RNA, protein, and single-cell assays.

Dr. Garman is an MD physician/scientist and a clinical gastroenterologist who balances clinical work with time in the lab. Her background is in gastrointestinal physiology and gastrointestinal stem and progenitor cell biology. This position will involve working closely with Dr. Garman keep the laboratory moving forward and this position requires the ability to work independently as well as in collaboration with other groups and teammembers.

Work Performed:

Technical duties include maintaining ongoing 3D culture using various conditions and cell types, collecting and analyzing data from these experiments and performing immunofluorescence (whole mount, frozen sections from culture and tissue samples) and collecting and processing images. Experience with flow cytometry is preferred but not required. 

Assist the Principal Investigator in managing research projects, developing and administering budgets, schedules, and performance metrics. Responsibilities may include supervision of laboratory staff/trainees including delegation of work assignments, recruitment, training and development, performance management, and career development. Manage and consult on laboratory budgets. Review and develop budgets for new grants/contracts or re-budgeting of current funding sources. Collaborate with other internal and external laboratories. Collaborate on data analysis and manuscript preparation, review and edits. Supervise, train and instruct residents, interns, students or lower level personnel in laboratory techniques and procedures. An introspective approach, a growth mindset, and willingness to work as an effective scientific team are essential.

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this classification. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required of personnel so classified.

Preferred Skills:

Must have strong organizational skills as well as strong technical skills in the lab. Frequently used techniques in our lab include 3D cell culture (organoids) and immunofluorescence imaging and analysis. Must be comfortable working with human samples (including in 3D culture). An interest in disparities research and a commitment to diversity are required.

Other information:

We work closely with a molecular biologist, a statistician and pathologists. We have a team of clinical research coordinators we also work with for many of our projects. Our lab includes bright, resourceful medical students doing research years in the lab.

We are located in the Carmichael Building in Downtown Durham and we are part of the Division of Gastroenterology as well as Duke Molecular Physiology Institute (DMPI) and we expect our lab members to work collaboratively with other research teams. We are currently performing RNA sequencing and single cell sequencing experiments as well as spatial transcriptomics experiments.

We are looking for someone who is looking for ways to grow with us through creative, high-quality, rigorous science that addresses questions related to gastrointestinal health and cancer prevention.

Work requires a bachelor's degree in botany, biology, zoology, psychology or other directly related scientific field.

Work requires four years of research experience. A related master's OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE degree may offset required years of experience on a 1:1 basis, e.g., a two year master's degree in lieu of two years of experience.

Job Code: 00001215 LAB RESEARCH ANALYST II
Job Level: 71

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