Research Laboratory Coordinator - Immunology

The Immunology department at MD Anderson Cancer Center seeks to determine the fundamental cellular and molecular mechanisms of a wide range of processes by which the body recognizes and eliminates pathogens and use these findings to unleash the patient's own immune system against previously treatment-resistant cancers. Treating the immune system rather than the cancer itself, the therapeutics developed are applicable to many cancers.

Immunology

KEY FUNCTIONS

Laboratory Development and Support

• Maintains and establishes tissue culture cell lines, which requires good sterile technique and ability to determine cell counts and cell viability using microscope and hemocytometer.
• Monitors, orders, and shelves tissue culture supplies.
• Establishes short-term cell cultures using human or mouse tissues.
• Some protocols require work on weekends/holidays and time away must be coordinated with other staff to ensure cell lines are maintained.
• Conducts laboratory research projects.
• Prepare project results for manuscripts.
• Create, maintain, and update standard operating procedures (SOPs) as needed.
• Performs Basic to intermediate techniques in immunological research, including in vivo (assays of delayed-type hypersensitivity, contact hypersensitivity) and in vitro measurements of immune function (mitogen and antigen-induced blastogenesis, ELISA, Western blotting, SDS-PAGE gels).
• Work with live mice; sets up breeding, transfers cages between rooms, ear tagging and tail snipping, and updating lab, breeding, and genotyping records.
  10. Assist with preparation of grant applications.
• Other duties as assigned

Laboratory Mentoring

• Supervise, mentor, and evaluate one Senior Research Assistant, including planning experiments, training new techniques, and performing lab maintenance activities.
• Coordinate and schedule laboratory training activities.
• Plan in-service training programs for all laboratory personnel.
• Discusses goals of projects and strategy for attaining the goals with Primary Investigator in clear and concise manner.
• Conducts interviews and assists in the hiring process.

Lab Management / Operations

• Responsible for ordering laboratory animals and maintaining
  up-to-date animal inventory.
• Responsible for ordering and maintaining laboratory supplies.
• Maintains lab work area and lab equipment, monitoring it daily to ensure the lab operates safely, is clean, and all equipment is in good working order; understands operation of all lab equipment, and follows written instructions/operations manuals.
• Recommends replacement or purchase of new equipment based on the needs of the lab/department.
• Manages capital equipment service contract facilitation.
• Monitor budget and provide quality control assessments of inventory.
• Ensures that the laboratory is in compliance with accrediting agency.
• Identifies and resolves any research operation issues.

Education

Required: Bachelor's degree.

Preferred: Master's degree.

Experience

Required: Five years of experience in scientific, research or clinical laboratory to include three years in a lead/supervisory capacity. With preferred degree, three years of required experience in a lead/supervisory capacity.

It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. http://www.mdanderson.org/about-us/legal-and-policy/legal-statements/eeo-affirmative-action.html