Research Specialist
- Employer
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
View more
- Administrative Jobs
- Academic Affairs, Research Staff & Technicians
- Employment Type
- Full Time
- Institution Type
- Four-Year Institution
Job Details
Permanent Staff (SHRA)
Is this an internal only recruitment?:No
Position Title:Research Specialist - Advanced
Working Title:Research Specialist
Position Number:00032650
Vacancy ID:P012332
Budgeted Hiring Range:$61,458 - $72,315
Pay Band Information:To learn more about the pay band for this branch and role, please see the Career Banding rates spreadsheet.
Salary Grade Equivalent:GN13
Full-time/Part-time Permanent/Time-Limited:Full-Time Permanent
Hours per week:40
Work Schedule:Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm.
Department Name and Number:Pathology Lab Med - Recharge-413805
Date First Posted:02/02/2021
Closing Date:03/18/2021
Position Location:Chapel Hill, NC
Position Posting Category:Research Professionals
Department Description:The three coequal missions of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine are to: 1) provide exceptional, comprehensive, clinically effective and cost effective pathology and laboratory medicine services to UNC HealthCare patients; 2) teach clinical and scientific concepts of pathology and laboratory medicine, and mechanisms of disease to a wide variety of learners, including medical students, postdoctoral residents, MD fellows, PhD graduate students, and undergraduate students; and 3) advance the practice of pathology and laboratory medicine, and the knowledge of diseases and disease mechanisms through innovative research spanning the spectrum from basic to translational to clinical.
The Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine performs anatomic and clinical diagnostic tests on both an inpatient and an outpatient basis, and performs autopsies, when requested by clinicians. The Department has a MD Residency Training Program in the Office of Graduate Medical Education. In the College of Arts and Sciences, the Department is responsible for the teaching of undergraduate level courses. In the Graduate School, the department has a graduate program in experimental pathology which offers both M.S. and Ph.D. degrees.
This department is devoted to research in many diverse areas of expertise. Many of the research initiatives are nationally and internationally known, and the Chair is dedicated to further expansion of the breadth of the research endeavors. Most research is wholly managed and funded by contracts and grants within the Department.
Equal Opportunity Employer:The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, race, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran.
Position Description:This Research Specialist position will lead the electron microscopy operations in the Microscopy Services Laboratory, an imaging core facility that serves hundreds of laboratories at the University of Carolina, as well as academic and commercial entities in the region and nation-wide.
The position requires a person that is hard-working, attentive to detail, with excellent organization and communication skills, and a dedicated team player. They will have the opportunity to contribute to a wide range of research projects in the biomedical sciences, including SARS-CoV-2 research.
Duties are varied and include:
- Meeting with clients to determine optimal electron microscopy techniques for their projects, as well as communicating expected timelines and costs for completion.
- Preparing samples for transmission and scanning electron microscopy, using a variety of techniques that include resin embedding, cutting and staining ultrathin sections, immunoEM, critical point drying and sputtering, among others.
- Imaging samples on transmission and scanning electron microscopes.
- Managing several sample preparation and imaging projects simultaneously while communicating expectations to clients and meeting deadlines.
- Teaching electron microscopy imaging and some aspects of sample preparation to researchers.
- Performing maintenance on electron microscopes and sample preparation instruments, troubleshooting equipment failures, and communicating with vendors to facilitate more complex maintenance and repairs. Maintenance will require the employee to be able to maneuver behind and under the equipment in a confined 3ft. × 3ft. space. Some equipment pieces that will need to be removed for servicing will weigh as much as 30lbs.
- Researching new electron microscopy sample preparation techniques and instrumentation.
- Supervising the work of another Research Specialist in electron microscopy.
- Occasionally collaborating with researchers at the level of authorship/co-authorship.
- Advising the director of the Microscopy Services Laboratory on strategic equipment purchases and improvements to operations in the electron microscopy domain.
Bachelor’s degree in a discipline related to the area of assignment; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.
Essential Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:Proficient in transmission and scanning electron microscopy imaging.
Proficient in the following electron microscopy sample preparation techniques:
- Resin embedding for TEM using epoxy or acrylic resins
- Ultramicrotomy
- Staining of samples for transmission electron microscopy
- Special stains/cytochemical techniques
- Immunocytochemistry
- Negative staining of samples for transmission electron microscopy
- Critical point drying
- Sputter coating
Masters degree or higher.
At least 5 years’ experience in electron microscopy sample preparation techniques.
At least 5 years’ experience in electron microscopy imaging.
At least 2 years’ experience in a core facility or similar shared resource setting
Position/Schedule Requirements:Evening work occasionally, Laboratory
Stimulus/ARRA Funded:No
Organization
The nation’s first public university is at the heart of what’s next, preparing a diverse student body to become creators, explorers, innovators and leaders in North Carolina and throughout the world. Carolina’s nationally recognized, innovative teaching, campus-wide spirit of inquiry and dedication to public service continue the legacy that began in 1795 when the University first opened its doors to students.
Here, in one of America's most beautiful college settings, we offer exceptional careers in richly diverse fields. Come explore what UNC-Chapel Hill has to offer you.
Undergraduate Enrollment: 19,117
Graduate/Professional Enrollment: 10,894
Total Student Enrollment: 30,011
Founded: 1789, as the first state university in the United States
Type of Institution: Public, four-year
Undergraduate Admission: 15,961
Graduate/Professional Enrollment: 10,039
Total Student Enrollment: 26,000
Faculty: 3,000
Percentage of faculty who hold Ph.D.s or the highest degrees in their field: 94 percent
Faculty/student ratio: 1/14
Location: UNC is located in the heart of Chapel Hill, the best college town in America! It's a friendly town of about 40,000 in the geographical center of North Carolina. Chapel Hill is at the western point of the Research Triangle, an area of about one million people, comprised of Chapel Hill, the cities of Durham and Raleigh, and the Research Triangle Park, home of many corporate offices and scientific research centers. Carolina is about 30 miles from the state capital, Raleigh, and 20 minutes from Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
Chapel Hill's main street, Franklin Street, borders the campus and offers shops, coffee houses, cafés, movie theaters and houses of worship. The town has a historic district, museum, library, parks, malls, and many recreational facilities.
Origins of Carolina's students: 82 percent of UNC's freshmen are from North Carolina and 18 percent are from out-of-state. Our students come from 42 different states and our international students represent 37 countries.
Size of freshman class: Approximately 3,400
Class size: Barely five percent of undergraduate classes contain more than 100 students; two-thirds of undergraduate classes have fewer than 30 students. Forty-one percent have fewer than 20 students, including First Year Seminars, in which first-year students work closely with professors.
Sports and athletic programs: UNC is an NCAA Division I school with 28 varsity teams. Carolina is the proud home of the Dean Smith Center, Kenan Stadium, Carmichael Auditorium, Koury Natatorium, and many other fine athletic facilities. Students join more than 60 intramural and club sports, which include baseball, bowling, crew, golf, lacrosse, rock climbing, rugby, tae kwon do, and ultimate frisbee. The Student Recreation Center offers weight training, aerobics, stair machines, and all the equipment you would expect to find at a great health club! Carolina offers a newly renovated outdoor pool and indoor pools, a golf course, tennis courts, and the longest zipline in America!
Number of residence halls: Incoming undergraduates will live in one of Carolina's 29 residence halls, which are wired for Internet access and cable television. housing.unc.edu
Scholarships and financial aid: About 40 percent of UNC-Chapel Hill students receive scholarships and/or some form of financial aid. studentaid.unc.edu
Special research institutes: Institute for Research in Social Science, Institute of Outdoor Drama, Morehead Planetarium, Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise, Institute of Government, Institute of African American Research.
Career services: On-campus counseling, job fairs, résumé writing service, internships, placement services. www.unc.edu/depts/career
Technological facilities: Students find multiple uses for Carolina's state-of-the-art technological resources. They can access Carolina's computer services through Academic Technology and Networks, which manages academic computing, e-mail, microcomputing labs, interactive media presentation, video and classroom support, and a help desk. The MetaLab oversees the development of SunSITE, one of the world's busiest digital library and electronic publishing projects.
Students may open e-mail accounts, and many use campus computer resources to construct personal Web pages. Students in residence halls have hardwired network connections to the Internet and cable television in their rooms. At the ATN Training center, students may take classes on software packages and utilities. Computer labs are available for student use all over campus.
Carolina Computing Initiative: Beginning with the freshman class of 2000, undergraduates must purchase laptop computers. The University has arranged for IBM to offer computers at excellent prices. Students, faculty, and staff will enjoy cost savings, higher quality compatible equipment, and better technical support through CCI. www.unc.edu/cci
The Study Abroad program allows students to live and learn in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Rim, Africa, and the Americas. www.unc.edu/depts/abroad
The Honors Program offers special seminars, research programs, and the chance to design your own independent studies. www.unc.edu/depts/honors
Carolina students spend time in public service through student organizations, the Campus Y, the Carolina Center for Public Service, and courses that incorporate community service.
UNC's chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, a national collegiate honor society, is the oldest in North Carolina, dating from 1904. There are many other honorary societies at Carolina.
UNC offers ROTC programs in all branches of national military service.
Through the First Year Seminars program, first year students will understand what it means to study at a premier research university. They will learn from faculty members and share in their research in seminars of no more than 20 students.
Life outside the classroom: More than 370 clubs, teams, and student organizations offer something for everyone! You can choose from among musical and dramatic performing groups, publications, ethnic and religious clubs, the Campus Y and other service organizations, fraternities and sororities, and pre- professional organizations. Whatever your interests, you will find others at Carolina who share them! www.unc.edu/depts/union/student/listintr.htm
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