The applicant will serve as the Scientific Research Coordinator for Dr. Edward Phelps in the J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Florida. Come join a dynamic lab where we are doing cutting edge research in type 1 diabetes. Learn more about our research program here: https://bme.ufl.edu/labs/phelps/
Oversight of Lab Activities: Carries out specific lab management tasks geared toward maintaining the lab environment on a day-to-day basis. Handles lab documentation and management, including but not limited to supplies purchasing, lab organization, lab inventory management, and equipment training and handling and maintenance. Coordinates exchange of research materials with other laboratories and proper receiving, inventory, quality control testing, and quarantine of newly arriving research materials, as appropriate. Conducts lab housekeeping tasks such as routine autoclaving/sterilization and glassware.
Collecting & analyzing experimental data: Assists the lab with research sample collection including pancreatic islet isolation from mice, culture and maintenance of isolated islets and cell lines, and performs end-point assays such as ELISA and immunostaining. Assists with plasmid amplification and simple subcloning workflows. Assists lab members with animal experiments including surgical assistant, performing welfare checks on lab animals housed in ACS facilities, and performing routine research procedures on research animals. Remains current on required training, emerging techniques, software programs, and instrumentation in field of expertise. May perform independent experiments, data collection and analyze research data.
Laboratory Safety and Chemical Disposal: This individual will serve as a liaison between departmental laboratory personnel and the College of Engineering Health and Safety Officer as well as University of Florida Environmental Health and Safety officials. This individual will serve as the laboratory Blood Borne Pathogen and Biomedical Waste Manger and Chemical/Hazardous Waste Manager and will develop protocols to assist the lab with environmental and safety compliance. This includes, but is not limited to, completing annual training and providing training for lab personnel, maintaining personnel completion records and notifying applicable parties of course renewal requirements. This individual will assist the lab in preparing for and will escort college and university personnel on laboratory inspections and request laboratory space inspections as needed. This position will serve as the lab designee to conduct inspections and to ensure laboratory space is clean, organized, and items are disposed of thoroughly by proper methods. These items include chemicals, biohazards, and used equipment. Types of disposal include arranging for Hazardous Chemical Waste pickup, inactivation of liquid Biomedical Waste, and solid Biomedical Waste contained in red Biohazardous waste bags by autoclaving when applicable. Responsible for compliance with laboratory safety procedures, and maintenance of safe storage, use, disposal, and appropriate documentation of chemicals & biological materials.
Lab Equipment Management: This individual will manage the operation and maintenance of all laboratory equipment along with coordinating the usage of these systems and will work with applicable parties to assist with training, and scheduling maintenance of the lab equipment. This individual will have knowledge and prior experience of confocal microscopy, plate readers, centrifuges, cryostat, biosafety cabinets, and cell culture incubators. This individual will be responsible for 1) organizing and executing training on lab equipment in coordination with the lab head, Dr. Phelps, 2) maintaining usage logs of equipment, 3) always maintaining clean and safe working areas, 4) having equipment serviced and making sure that equipment is always in good working order, 5) addresses facility-related issues with building or campus personnel, 6) handles personnel access to the lab research and office spaces.
Other duties as assigned: Performs other tasks as necessary under the direction of the lab’s Primary Investigator, Dr. Phelps. This person may assist the lab in Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and Animal Care Service (ACS) documentation and research, Institutional Review Board (IRB), or Institute Biosafety Committee (IBC), and as liaison for laboratory tours taken by IACUC, IRB, or IBC.