Lab Manager / Research Assistant II

Michigan State University - East Lansing, MI

Full-time - Mid Level

East Lansing, MI

Educational Services

About the position

The Fisheries and Wildlife department at Michigan State University is seeking a dedicated Lab Manager / Research Assistant II to oversee the culture and maintenance of sea lamprey and zebrafish. This full-time position involves conducting research, maintaining essential records, licenses, supplies, and equipment, and coordinating visits and experiments with collaborators. The primary responsibility of the Lab Manager will be to maintain and manage the zebrafish and sea lamprey colonies and the associated facility. This includes culturing sea lamprey and zebrafish through their life history stages, managing the space, equipment, and supplies necessary for fish rearing and research, and ensuring compliance with lab safety and animal welfare regulations. Additionally, the role involves performing research related to gene editing and other projects, as well as coordinating research activities within the fish lab, including the visits and experiments of collaborators. The ideal candidate will possess knowledge equivalent to that typically acquired through a four-year college degree in a relevant field, along with three to five years of progressively responsible experience in overseeing research projects and laboratory operations. This includes operating and maintaining various laboratory equipment, performing specialized analytical techniques, and designing research experiments pertinent to the ongoing research. The position may also require specific software knowledge related to the research area and may necessitate special licensing or certification. Desired qualifications include a Bachelor of Science in Fisheries and Wildlife, Zoology, or a related field, along with experience in managing a research fish colony, including breeding and caring for fish, maintaining water treatment systems, and training and supervising assistants. Experience in supporting gene editing research in fish, including maintaining various lines of edited and wildtype fish, collecting and analyzing samples for genotyping, and screening live edited fish for fluorescence using microscopy is also preferred. The candidate should be willing and able to perform duties on some weekends and holidays, as required by the position.

Responsibilities

• Culture and maintain sea lamprey and zebrafish through their life history stages.
• Manage and maintain the space, equipment, and supplies used for fish rearing and research.
• Ensure compliance with lab safety and animal welfare regulations, maintaining necessary records.
• Perform research related to gene editing and other projects.
• Coordinate research activities in the fish lab, including visits and experiments of collaborators.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Fisheries and Wildlife, Zoology, or a related field.
• Three to five years of related experience in overseeing research projects and laboratory operations.
• Experience operating and maintaining a variety of laboratory equipment.
• Ability to perform specialized and difficult analytical and research techniques.
• Experience designing research experiments in a relevant area.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience managing a research fish colony, including breeding and caring for fish.
• Experience maintaining water treatment systems for fish.
• Experience training and supervising assistants in fish care.
• Experience supporting gene editing research in fish, including maintaining various lines of edited and wildtype fish.
• Experience recording and analyzing fish behavior.