Junior Specialist - Diet, Microbiome and Immunity (DMI) Unit

NATURE AND PURPOSE

The position of Junior Specialist provides technical or specialized expertise in the planning and execution of a research project. The Junior Specialist stays apprised of the research area, and maintains technical competence in the designated area(s) of specialization. The Diet, Microbiome and Immunity (DMI) Unit, located at the Western Human Nutrition Research Center (WHNRC), and affiliated with the Department of Nutrition, invites applications for a qualified Junior Specialist in support of nutrition projects related to the effects of diet on the gut microbiome and immunity. This position will be involved in randomized controlled trials, part‑time assisting lead study coordinators with participant activities and part‑time processing participant specimens. Participant activities may include screening, recruitment, dietary data prompting and/or review, preparation for study visits, conducting study visits, managing participant specimen collection and/or drop‑offs, and review of participant data for quality control. Lab‑specific activities may include learning and following standard operating procedures to process participant specimens such as blood, urine, saliva, and/or stool. The Junior Specialist will be expected to participate in study‑specific, DMI Unit, or WHNRC meetings and is actively and significantly engaged in research of the DMI Unit.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

RESEARCH IN SPECIALIZED AREAS (90%)

The Junior Specialist will use their academic and professional expertise to make scientific contributions to research studies and will contribute to published research. Under the general direction of the Principal Investigators, the Junior Specialist will collaborate with other research personnel as part of multidisciplinary human clinical research trials conducted at the Western Human Nutrition Research Center. The area of research is diet, gut microbiome, and immune function. The Junior Specialist will be actively engaged in general study management and coordination, including following and/or writing standard operating procedures, recruitment, screening, and coordinating study test visits. The Junior Specialist will be involved in data collection from human study participants such as dietary assessment, anthropometrics, and vital signs. The Junior Specialist will follow approved protocols and will learn to modify and update protocols. Data collection, summary and reporting will be ongoing and will utilize various computer‑based tools such as MS Office Suite, Qualtrics and RedCap. The Junior Specialist will integrate data collected by collaborators and co‑investigators into the overall data set. Protocols for data entry, data quality assurance, and reporting will be developed and followed. The Junior Specialist’s responsibilities will include transportation of biological specimens between research unit and lab, and processing of these biospecimens biospecimens, including blood, urine, stool and/or saliva using proper safety protocols. The Junior Specialist will follow standard operating procedures and use equipment in the laboratory with training, including biosafety cabinets, pipets, centrifuges, and ultralow freezers. Additional aspects unique to this research include maintaining access to REDCap computer systems to perform barcode label printing, barcode scanning, data entry, and data checking. The Junior Specialist will be responsible for routine quality checking and organization of results.

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND ACTIVITY (5%)

The Junior Specialist will participate in appropriate professional societies or groups in the field of nutrition, microbiology, or human health. The Junior Specialist will conduct literature searches for articles relevant to the research topic, engage in discussions of data with the Principal Investigators, and contribute to manuscript preparation and presentation of research findings.

UNIVERSITY AND PUBLIC SERVICE (5%)

The Junior Specialist is expected to minimally participate in university service by mentoring undergraduate interns. #J-18808-Ljbffr University of California