Laboratory Manager – Lymphoma/Myeloma

MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center is to eliminate cancer in Texas, the nation, and the world through outstanding programs that integrate patient care, research and prevention, and through education for undergraduate and graduate students, trainees, professionals, employees and the public.

JOB SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES

Clinical & Translational Research (40%)

· In conjunction with clinical research faculty under the direction of the Translational Research Director, design and propose translational research to accompany clinical trials within the department. Ensure translational research proposals are current and relevant for the biological rationale of the proposed trials, and stay up to date on the most recent literature related to trial research.

· This position would support trouble shooting and management of IACUC and other regulatory issues for the Lymphoma lab and others in the Department

· Write and assist with translational components of clinical trial protocols, providing scientific rationale and consultation for clinical principal investigators. Provide consultation on appropriate sample types and time courses for sample collections and experimental execution.

· Assist in completion of grant applications, industry-sponsored agreements, and philanthropic funding applications as needed to support translational research.

· Coordinate the execution of translational research and assume responsibilities including but not limited to:

o Coordinate with clinical trial teams to ensure proper collection, handling, and documentation of patient samples related to ongoing translational research

o Maintain records related to protocol procedures, patient enrollment and consent, sample collection and processing, and distribution of samples for research purposes.

o Ensure institutional compliance policies are followed and documented as appropriate for research samples and collections.

o Provide consultation and training to clinical and research personnel on best practices for handling and processing samples and executing research assays

· Communicate progress updates for ongoing translational research projects with clinical and research faculty and outside partners as needed, including but not limited to:

o Assemble intermediate and final reports for translational research projects as needed, including summary documents, data analysis, graph and figure generation.

o Assist clinical and research teams with documentation on project status including sample or patient accrual

Operations and Research (30%)

· Conduct laboratory research projects under direction of the principal investigator. Develop ability to semi-independently design and physically carry out experiments approved by the principal investigator. Ensure knowledge management of the science and rationale of projects assigned. Stay updated on the most recent progress in literature related to projects. Maintain accurate, detailed and well-organized experimental records, data and protocols. Prepare graphs and tables via photography, computer or manually. Communicate results to and understand instructions from principal investigator.

· Learn, modifies and develops new laboratory research techniques and skills that will fulfill the goals of the laboratory projects.

· Coordinate function of a research laboratory and assume responsibilities including but not limited to:

o Monitor consumable research material inventory and coordinate submission of orders to ensure prompt arrival of supplies required for execution of research projects ensuring material orders are an appropriate expense as per the sponsored research agreement.

o Maintain a centralized collection of research materials including reagents, cell lines, plasmids, antibodies, and relevant data information.

o Organize usage of laboratory resources (including cell culture hoods, benches, equipment, materials, data, etc.) to ensure appropriate use of the resources.

o Assign common laboratory duties to laboratory members, such as cleaning of cell culture wastes, autoclaving of cell culture materials, preparation of commonly used solutions for sharing, exchange of liquid nitrogen tank and carbon dioxide tank, etc.

· Ability to operating various laboratory equipment items such as 3D scanner, spectrophotometer, high-speed centrifuge, Plate reader, PCR thermal cycler, CO2 culture incubator, electrophoresis apparatus, liquid N2 tank system, biosafety cabinets, etc.

· Ability to perform basic and advanced cellular, biochemical and molecular biology experimental techniques and methodologies, including but not limited to: cell culture studies (analysis of cell cycle progression, proliferation, differentiation or death using assays such as Cell Titer Glo, MTT, ELISA, etc.), protein analysis (Western blot analysis, immunoprecipitation, etc.), and molecular biology skills, extraction of RNA, PCR cloning and nucleotide point mutagenesis, etc.) .

Laboratory Personnel Management and Educational Activities (5%)

· Manage laboratory personnel and educational activities.

· Determines staffing needs and schedules personnel to provide adequate coverage in laboratory.

· Counsels and evaluates laboratory personnel.

· Recommends employees for merit increases, promotions and transfers, when appropriate.

· Interviewing applicants as the hiring manager, training fellow staff members, assigning and delegating tasks.

· Plans and/or conducts in-service programs.

Laboratory Safety (5%)

· Ensures that laboratory is prepared for safety accreditation.

· Provide direct assistance and supervision of new laboratory classified employees and trainees to obey laboratory safety rules.

· Manage maintenance and operation issues of a research laboratory. Assist laboratory principal investigator to work with the designated department representative(s) to assure correct practice of laboratory safety and universal precaution standards as required under institutional guidelines, including but not limited to: Ensure proper maintenance of institutional regulatory records (safety manuals, MSDS, etc.) and performance of required laboratory testing (radiation wipe tests, etc.).

· Ensure equipment is functioning, maintained, and employees are trained to use the equipment to eliminate near miss incidents.

Procurement & Fiscal Responsibility (20%)

· Prepares budget documents and ensures financial feasibility for proposed grants and work with industry sponsors.

· Ensures timely progress on contract and budget negotiations and communicates at payable milestones with outside partners, coordinating with designated departmental and institutional representatives.

· Reviews and makes recommendations for purchasing based on anticipated work-load in laboratory ensuring expenditure is an appropriate expense and allowed by the sponsored project.

· Recommends replacement or purchase of new equipment and ordering of lab supplies.

· Coordinate purchases for sponsored projects and financial reconciliation.

· Assists with preparation of grant applications.

Other duties as assigned

Education Required – Bachelor’s degree.

Experience Required – Seven years experience in laboratory operations to include two years in a supervisory capacity.

Experience Preferred – Experience with regulatory (IRB/IBC/IACUC) and more than 3 years of experience in animal research.

Successful completion of the LEADing Self Accelerate program may substitute for one year of required supervisory or management experience. Must pass pre-employment skills test as required and administered by Human Resources.

It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. http://www.mdanderson.org/about-us/legal-and-policy/legal-statements/eeo-affirmative-action.html