Position Summary

The Laboratory Manager position is a full-time role within the Brain Food Lab at the University of Georgia, directed by Dr. Shana Adise, PhD, focusing on neurocognitive development, obesity, and related outcomes in youth.

The primary responsibilities of the Lab Manager are multifaceted, serving as the operational and technical backbone of the lab. Key duties include data management and analysis (overseeing entry, cleaning, storage, and coding pipelines) and study coordination (managing participant recruitment, scheduling, and MRI scanning logistics). Additionally, the Lab Manager is responsible for supervision and training of research assistants, handling daily lab operations (inventory and ordering), managing regulatory compliance (IRB protocols), and providing general administrative and research support to the PI, such as assisting with grant reports.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with programming and data analysis in R, Python, Bash, and/or MATLAB and familiarity with scripting, and/or data pipelines is preferred.
• Experience working with youth participants or in pediatric research is preferred.
• Familiarity with neuroimaging (MRI/fMRI) studies is preferred.
• Knowledge of obesity-related research or neurocognitive testing is a bonus.
• Experience supervising and training undergraduate and graduate students is preferred.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Data Management & Analysis (25%): Oversee the secure storage, organization, and cleaning of all behavioral, questionnaire, and imaging data. Manage data entry processes and computational workflows. Assist in coding pipelines to ensure reproducible research practices. Assist the Principal Investigator (PI) with statistical analyses to support ongoing projects.
• Study Coordination (25%): Lead efforts in participant recruitment, screening, and scheduling for all ongoing studies, specifically working with youth participants in pediatric research. Coordinate all MRI scanning logistics and collaborate closely with imaging cores to ensure seamless data acquisition. Serve as the primary communication liaison with study participants and collaborators.
• Supervision & Training (15%): Actively mentor and supervise a team of undergraduate and graduate research assistants. Provide training on all study procedures, standardized data handling, and quality control measures to maintain data integrity.
• Administrative & Research Support (15%): Assist the PI with the preparation and editing of grant reports, progress summaries, and contributions to scientific manuscripts. Participate in lab meetings, contributing actively to discussions on experimental design, data interpretation, and strategic project planning.
• Lab Operations (10%): Manage and maintain lab inventory, including the ordering of supplies and materials, while adhering to budget guidelines. Ensure that all lab equipment is functioning optimally and coordinate necessary repairs or updates. Safely transport scientific equipment, materials, and/or data between research facilities and other designated locations to support experimental and operational needs.
• Regulatory Compliance (10%): Oversee the maintenance of all IRB (Institutional Review Board) protocols, including managing amendments and annual renewals. Ensure the research team’s strict adherence to all ethical research standards, university policies, and federal regulations.