"Research Lab Specialist"

Research Lab Specialist

Posted: 26-Nov-25

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan

Categories: Staff/Administrative

Internal Number: 271335

Interested applicants should provide a cover letter detailing their specific interest in the position, CV, and contact information for three references.

The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Michigan seeks a full-time Laboratory Research Specialist to manage the Geomicrobiology Laboratory and the Great Lakes Center for Freshwaters and Human Health. The successful candidate will work with a team of graduate students, postdocs, and staff to train and mentor students and conduct laboratory and field research on microbiomes, with a focus on harmful cyanobacterial blooms in the Great Lakes. The position requires regular, onsite presence in the laboratory to support research operations and train users.

Senior: Research Leadership & Experimentation

• Lead, develop, design, and conduct research on multiple projects, including both wet lab and field work in the Dick lab.
• Independently create new methods and work to improve existing laboratory and research techniques.
• Collect and conduct samples for research and data analysis.
• Prepare research reports and write content for final submission into peer-reviewed journals.
• Present research work at conferences.
• Collect data and contribute to the preparation of research reports and peer-review papers.

Lab Operations & Safety

• Provide oversight for the day-to-day operation of the laboratory.
• Train users and staff on laboratory techniques, equipment usage, and protocol standards.
• Maintain laboratory records and ensure compliance with protocol standards.
• Serve as back-up supervisor when the Principal Investigator (PI) is unavailable in the lab.
• Maintain laboratory safety by enforcing protocols, procedures, and university/departmental policies.

Supervision & Training

• Supervise Research Fellows, graduate, and undergraduate students.
• Coach and mentor staff and students on various research techniques.
• Train all staff in the lab.

Collaboration & Communication

• Interact and collaborate with research partners, both internally and externally.
• Present research findings at conferences.
• Data Management & Reporting
• Enter data into databases; design and update datasets as needed.
• Develop and implement data management protocols.

Intermediate: Geomicrobiology Lab Research

• Develop, design, and conduct research in the Geomicrobiology Lab.
• Create new methodologies and independently improve existing methods.
• Collect samples and data for research reports and peer-reviewed papers.
• Prepare reports and write content for submission to peer-reviewed journals.
• Conduct both wet lab and field work.

Laboratory Operations & Supervision

• Oversee daily operation of the laboratory.
• Train users on laboratory techniques and equipment usage.
• Supervise undergraduate students, providing coaching and mentoring on research techniques.
• Maintain laboratory cultures, records, and protocols.
• Coordinate laboratory usage, sample management, and supply ordering/inventory.

Safety and Compliance

• Enforce laboratory safety protocols and procedures.
• Ensure compliance with departmental and University policies and procedures.

Collaboration, Outreach, & Web Management

• Coordinate collaborative research, outreach, and engagement at the Great Lakes Center for Freshwaters and Human Health.
• Design and update websites using graphical web-based software.
• Plan and coordinate monthly and annual meetings.
• Participate in and coordinate public outreach and engagement with stakeholders.
• Assist in the preparation of reports.

Data Management

• Manage research data, including entry into databases.
• Design and update datasets.
• Develop and implement data management protocols.

Senior Qualifications:

• Master's degree in a recognized field of science or learning directly related to laboratory duties
• 5-6 years of relevant laboratory or research experience
• Supervisory experience
• Financial management experience
• Experience in a laboratory setting with all of the following:
• Managing budgets or financial resources
• Lab management
• Preparation of microbiological media and reagents, sterile technique, cultivation of bacteria
• Chemical and molecular methods such as gel electrophoresis, UV-VIS spectrophotometer, polymerase chain reaction, and extraction and quantification of nucleic acids.
• Planning and executing field work with minimal supervision, including coordination and collection of environmental water samples on research vessels on the Great Lakes

Intermediate Qualifications:

• BS/BA degree plus 4-5 years related experience in a natural science discipline such as microbiology, chemistry, earth science, or environmental sciences.
• Experience in a laboratory setting with experience in two or more of the following:
• lab management
• preparation of microbiological media and reagents, sterile technique, cultivation of bacteria
• chemical and molecular methods such as gel electrophoresis, UV-VIS spectrophotometer, polymerase chain reaction, and extraction and quantification of nucleic acids.
• planning and executing field work with minimal supervision, including coordination and collection of environmental water samples on research vessels on the Great Lakes

Senior Preferred:

• Doctorate (PhD, MD, etc.) in a relevant scientific discipline.
• Demonstrated experience with scholarly publication and presentation at scientific meetings or conferences.
• Experience with grant writing or securing external research funding.
• Project Management: Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Experience mentoring junior staff, students, or trainees.
• Experience with design and maintenance of websites
• Experience with data management
• Experience with bioinformatic analysis of DNA sequence data such as 16S rRNA gene libraries and random shotgun metagenomic and metatranscriptomic data; familiarity with the unix command line interface and shell scripts, and R or Python
• Experience with research engagement and/or outreach

Intermediate Preferred:

• Master's degree or higher in a relevant scientific field
• Supervisory and financial management experience
• Experience with design and maintenance of websites
• Experience with data management
• Experience with bioinformatic analysis of DNA sequence data such as 16S rRNA gene libraries and random shotgun metagenomic and metatranscriptomic data; familiarity with the unix command line interface and shell scripts, and R or Python
• Experience with research engagement and/or outreach

This position may be filled at the intermediate or senior level, depending on candidate qualifications and experience.

Senior salary range: $61,600 - $77,000

Intermediate salary range: $52,400 - $65,500