Research Specialist

The laboratory of Dr. Kenneth Pienta (https://www.kennethjpienta.com) is seeking a well-qualified, driven Research Specialist. The successful candidate will be expected to be proficient in a large repertoire of research techniques that will allow them to work in both an independent manner as well as part of a collaborative team within the laboratory and with collaborators at JHU and other institutions. The position will also assist with coordinating a variety of laboratory responsibilities.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Maintaining inventory/stock of critical consumables.
• Aliquoting of lab mission-critical reagents (FBS, P/S).
• Lab infrastructure tasks, i.e., autoclaving Pasteur pipettes, CO2 tanks for TC, incubators.
• Serving as point of contact for vendors – including “catching” equipment (like recently, TC incubators, -80 freezer, BSCs).
• Disposing of hazardous waste.
• Training of new lab members, including for TC, general bench SOP.
• Daily experiments that include use of highly technical equipment including the confocal microscope, the S3 flow cytometer, the Wolf cytometer, and the nCounter.
• Work independently on assigned projects, utilizing established research protocols as well as base knowledge of general laboratory procedures and skills.
• Function as primary specialist on 1-2 projects while performing other tasks related to ongoing laboratory projects or overall laboratory operations, per the PI’s discretion.
• Make significant and important contributions to various aspects of research efforts, including troubleshooting, and providing training and guidance other JHU employees or trainees (undergraduate, graduate, or post-doc) in experiments and laboratory assays utilizing specialized equipment such as flow cytometers, use of standard equipment, and/or other routine lab techniques/procedures.
• Must stay up to date on relevant published research and incorporate recent findings into the development of his/her research.
• Run laboratory tests and complete measurements assigned utilizing standard or established laboratory protocols, including the set-up of experiments based on defined standards, the collection of project data, analyzing and interpreting results, making conclusions based on the collected data, and designing follow-up experiments.
• Use basic scientific knowledge to learn techniques/methods of the lab and/or new techniques/methods.
• Perform standard laboratory tasks and complete routine assays following common or established protocols and procedures.
• Contribute to the development of new research protocols or the modification of existing protocols to improve efficiency/productivity.
• Gain problem-solving skills through progressive training, understanding of the research, and experience.
• Play a role in experiments and projects that utilize animal models, which will include both project specific animal procedures and assisting with maintaining the laboratory mouse colony.
• May be required to prepare, test, and maintain standard laboratory equipment, perform related laboratory maintenance, monitoring inventory of supplies, cleaning equipment, and/or ordering of research/laboratory supplies.
• Present research findings and data at regularly occurring laboratory meetings.
• Assist with writing and preparing data/figures for peer-reviewed as well as potentially present research findings and data at research conferences as directed by the laboratory director.
• Perform miscellaneous related duties as assigned.

Special Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Proficiency in the use of software applications, databases, spreadsheets, and word processing.
• Knowledge of medical terminology
• Outstanding organizational skills.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent time management skills.
• Ability to understand and implement support for clinical trials.
• Ability to simultaneously manage multiple projects, and effectively prioritize each.
• Outstanding verbal communication.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills.
• Must adhere to guidelines regarding honest reporting of sensitive and confidential patientinformation.
• Understands the importance/impact of data integrity in terms of patients, study results,costs, quality of service and scientific research in general.
• Regular contact with physicians, other health care personnel and occasionally, patients, requires the use of good judgment, tact and sensitivity.

• Bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry or related field.
• One year laboratory experience performing relevant techniques.
• Master's degree, with related graduate research, may substitute for experience to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

Classified Title: Research Specialist  
Role/Level/Range: ACRP/03/MA  
Starting Salary Range: $17.11 - $29.90 HRLY ($23.51/hour targeted; Commensurate w/exp.) 
Employee group: Full Time 
Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:30 A.M – 5:00 P.M. 
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt 
Location: School of Medicine Campus 
Department name: ​​​​​​​SOM Uro Urology Research  
Personnel area: School of Medicine