"Research Lab Specialist Assoc"

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position. Please include contact information for two references as well.

The Wigginton and Eisenberg Labs (PIs: Krista Wigginton & Marisa Eisenberg) are part the State of Michigan Wastewater Evaluation and Reporting Network to quantify pathogens in wastewater. We are currently focused on processing samples from a number of wastewater treatment plants across the state of Michigan as part of the larger network for a streamlined spatially robust monitoring network covering much of the state of Michigan. We are looking to bring on a full-time research technician (100% effort staff position; 40hrs/wk) to support different aspects of work in the lab. Work will be conducted at both North (EWRE) and Central (SPH) campuses at the University of Michigan. The primary role of this position will be lab-based, focused on extracting and concentrating field-collected samples and then running those samples through ddPCR. This role will also support the analysis of sampling data and supporting the pipeline of the data to stakeholders.

Sample processing, method development, virus cultivation, data management, and meetings and communication.

• 50% Sample processing, method development, virus cultivation, lab management, and lab maintenance. The primary responsibility of this position is to culture bacteriophages and eukaryotic viruses; to quantify organisms in environmental samples with ddPCR; to organize and store received samples. This position requires molecular lab experience. Other duties include performing monthly lab inspections, overseeing the cleaning and maintenance of equipment, act as the primary resource for lab safety management, oversee undergraduates in basic lab maintenance tasks and lab safety, and be responsible for ordering research and laboratory supplies.
• 30% Analyze wastewater sampling data to support method development, monitoring, compliance, and system performance objectives. Responsibilities include validating and cleaning laboratory and field data, integrating sampling results with flow, temporal, and operational datasets and dashboards, identifying trends and anomalies, and translating findings into clear insights for technical and non-technical stakeholders and academic manuscripts.
• 10% Data management. The applicant will have responsibilities that include data management, conducting quality control on results, uploading results to cloud storage, sharing data with our collaborators at other institutes, and presenting results to the group (see below), and possibly running R scripts for visualization.
• 10% Meetings & communication. Applicant will attend weekly lab meetings and communicate results of their work to our group, send updates to our community and research partners, perform various computational projects to support research in the lab, and aid in other public outreach efforts.

Required Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in engineering, epidemiology, chemistry, or biology (broadly defined) with significant wet lab experience, including molecular methods. Willingness to work as part of a team. Competent in using computers and related technology.

Preferred Qualifications: Experience working with environmental samples; Some flexibility with working hours - running a large ddPCR plate can take 8-9 hours so a day that starts at 8am isn't uncommon; Experience coding in R.

This is a one (1) year limited position with possibility of renewal. Potential start date is April 13, 2026, depending on candidate's availability.