UNIV - Research Specialist II - Department of Pharmacology & Immunology

UNIV - Research Specialist II - Department of Pharmacology & Immunology

The Haque Lab in the Department of Pharmacology and Immunology at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) is seeking a highly motivated, organized, and experienced Research Specialist II to support the management and coordination of the SCI Infrastructure Core Special Initiative, a project funded by the South Carolina Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Research Fund. The successful candidate will provide research and technical expertise in support of preclinical studies focused on spinal cord injury, neuroinflammation, functional recovery, and rehabilitation. The Research Specialist II will work closely with the Principal Investigator (PI), research investigators, technicians, and other laboratory personnel to coordinate experimental activities, maintain research resources, and ensure the efficient execution of ongoing SCI studies. This position provides an excellent opportunity for an individual interested in SCI research, preclinical therapeutic development, neurorehabilitation, and translational neuroscience to play a key role in the operation and advancement of an interdisciplinary SCI research infrastructure.

Job Duties:

• 25%: Assist with experimental data collections involving complex spinal cord injury procedures, including the collection of behavioral data. Collects samples, performs sample analyses, and extracts measurement data from experiments.
• 20% : Daily care of animals through completion to ensure IACUC and regulatory compliance. Work with DLAR and VA veterinary staff to ensure proper care of complications.
• 15% : Assist with the maintenance of study organization, including data entry and data storage through both document hard copies and electronically. This job duty includes organizing, writing, and renewing both animal (IACUC), IBC, and human (IRB) protocols, ensuring compliance with regulations, and maintaining communication with the institutional IACUC, IBC, and IRB.
• 15% : Organize and maintain adequate lab-specific supplies to complete all data collections. Assist in preparation of grants, presentations, and manuscripts (editing/proofing text, preparation of figures) as well as editing yearly progress reports. On call for laboratory emergencies on weekends and after hours. Manages supply inventory. Maintains animal, chemical, and controlled drug inventories according to IACUC, OSHA and DEA regulations.
• 10% : Review laboratory procedures to ensure OSHA/IACUC regulations for animal and human tissue use as well as chemical safety.
• 10% : Procure and prepare animals for experiments done in the Animal laboratory. Assist in the design of experimental research.
• 5% : Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements: A bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, or other natural, life or health care science and one year work experience directly related to the assigned research area. Physical Requirements: (Note: The following descriptions are applicable to this section: Continuous - 6-8 hours per shift; Frequent - 2-6 hours per shift; Infrequent - 0-2 hours per shift) Ability to perform job functions in an upright position. (Frequent) Ability to perform job functions in a seated position. (Continuous) Ability to perform job functions while walking/mobile. (Frequent) Ability to climb, using step stool. (Infrequent) Ability to work in temperature extremes (32 F to 100 F) when required due to assignments in cold rooms and/or foreign countries. (Infrequent) Ability to work in confined/cramped spaces. (Continuous) Ability to bend at the waist. (Frequent) Ability to twist at the waist. (Frequent) Ability to fully use both hands/arms. (Continuous) Ability to perform repetitive motions with hands/wrists/elbows and shoulders. (Frequent) Ability to fully use both legs. (Frequent) Ability to reach in all directions, stretch, bend, while moving items/materials from both sitting and standing positions. (Frequent) Ability to maintain good olfactory sensory function/distinction. (Continuous) Ability to lift materials up to 20 lbs., unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to lift and carry 4 liter waste material bottles a distance of 30 feet, unassisted. (Frequent) Ability to lift and carry 25-30 lbs. jugs of liquid a distance of 100 feet, unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to lift file boxes, from floor level to counter tops, unassisted. (Frequent) Ability to push/ Ability to lift 40 lbs. centrifuge rotors from floor level to height of 40 inches, then down 20 inches into centrifuge drum, unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to lift 25 lbs. boxes, from floor level to maximum height of 72 inches, unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to push/pull file boxes from one location to another at floor level. (Frequent) Ability to maneuver heavy equipment on bench tops, 50 lbs. or greater, unassisted. (Frequent) Ability to perform gross motor functions with frequent fine motor movements. (Continuous) Ability to maintain 20/40 vision, corrected, in one eye or with both eyes. (Continuous) Ability to match or discriminate between colors, normally. (Continuous) Ability to hear and recognize various alarms emitting from work area systems. (Continuous) Ability to hear and/or understand conversations. (Continuous) Ability to work in a darkroom for processing film, etc. (Continuous) Ability to be qualified physically for respirator use, initially and annually. (Continuous) Additional New Requirements: Ability to work rotating shifts as required. Ability to work overtime as required. Ability to learn and use new processes, tools and equipment as required.