"Research Specialist - Contributing"

Organizational Unit Overview

The organizational unit is the Division of Academic Affairs of the Department of Public Health at the Brody School of Medicine. Our Department of Public Health is committed to educating professionals and conducting research to improve the health of communities in our region and beyond. This mission aligns with the Brody School of Medicines mission to improve the health and well-being of the region. We practice a combination of science and social approaches to reduce disease and systematically address the multiple determinants of health. Our work is rooted in strong partnerships with the community, health and social services, industry and business, and academia. The evidence-based study and practice of Public Health have never been more important as our region, state, nation, and world face significant health challenges. The mission and vision of the Department of Public Health in the Brody School of Medicine are to promote the health and well-being of communities across North Carolina and beyond through innovative education, research, and service. Our five guiding principles are to provide accessible stakeholder-informed learning opportunities, conduct applied and impactful research, serve communities through collaboration, advance the health in rural populations, and develop professionals who adapt to meet current challenges. These guiding principles are the driving forces for our teaching, research, and service.

Learning opportunities of the department include:

• Two online Certificate programs
• The Master of Public Health degree program with three concentrations (which can be completed online)
• Two doctoral degrees: the DrPH programs in Health Policy, Administration, and Leadership and Environmental and Occupational Health.

Public Health is collaborative in research and service, and works with local, regional, state, and national public health and health care agencies, and works closely with and is guided by an interdisciplinary group of Community Advisory Board members who lend their expertise to help us achieve program goals.

Job Duties

This position will assess and develop the methodology needed to perform laboratory research with a focus on the toxicity evaluation of new chemicals using in vitro and in vivo models. The position will also support laboratory and field exposure experiments related to air quality (aerosols and gases) and physical hazards (extreme temperature, UV exposure, and noise). Responsibilities will include method development, experimental setup, and generation and measurement of airborne exposures. The role will also involve exposing mosquitoes and rodents to airborne chemicals and evaluating toxicity.

It is expected that the position will optimize the methodology in consultation with the faculty supervisor(s). In addition, the position will collect and manage data across multiple media while visualizing the results through graphs and tables. With optimization, the position will create SOPs to distribute to the lab members as needed and continuously support with literature review in preparation for an external grant proposal for research productivity. Finally, the position will operate independently to make decisions for the lab when it comes to meeting the research mission of the two labs.

90% Research:

• The Research Specialist is critical to the successful operations of two bench labs in the Department of Public Health at the Brody School of Medicine.
• The duties of the Research Specialist include the following: Serving as the Lab manager for Dr. Pokhrels and Dr. Sousans labs (order reagents and supplies through PORT, maintain equipment, conduct required regulatory work, chemical inventory, and ensure regulatory compliance).
• Responsible for oversight and coordination of activities of all laboratory personnel, including but not limited to training students on all equipment and methods used in the laboratory. Responsible for the development, implementation, and maintenance of all laboratory safety plans, including the Biosafety Level 2 Plan (BSL-2).
• Independently conduct toxicology experiments that include the following methods: synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials, toxicity involving different bioassays (bacteria, human cell lines, algae, crop plants, and honeybees), culture and maintenance of such bioassays, molecular and physicochemical analysis, water quality testing, and light microscopy.
• Independently learn and conduct airborne exposure experiments involving aerosol and gas monitoring equipment, retrieving data, and performing analysis in Excel and/or MATLAB.
• Operate different exposure chambers and help develop new ones.
• Independently generate various airborne exposures, including aerosols and gases from electronic cigarettes, insecticides, pesticides, salt, oil, dust, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Evaluate air quality monitors under different exposure conditions, and test insecticidal efficacy on mosquitoes.
• Conduct field experiments using air quality equipment and sensors for physical hazards (extreme temperature, UV exposure, and noise), and physiological sensors (core body temperature, hydration levels, heart rate, skin temperature, and others).
• Management and ability to use common laboratory equipment, including dynamic light scattering, UV spectrophotometer, pH meter, incubators, aerosol spectrometers, optical particle counters, photometers, photoionization detectors, and analytical/microbalance.
• Media (agar, broth) and chemical preparation for the above experiments.
• Responsible for ensuring the inventory and maintenance of both laboratory equipment, biological materials, and materials associated with ongoing and former projects.
• Responsible for collecting and organizing data in a timely manner.

10% Laboratory Compliance:

The position will also be responsible for ensuring research and safety compliance in both labs and common equipment rooms, and maintaining lab inventory.

Minimum Education/Experience

Bachelors degree in a discipline related to the area of assignment; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

License or Certification Required by Statute or Regulation

N/A

Preferred Experience, Skills, Training/Education

• Independent laboratory management experience for student training and funded faculty projects
• Computer proficiency, basic programming skills
• Experience in wet lab operation and management, cell culture and maintenance, molecular biology analysis, and/or experience operating real-time and discrete instruments for collecting airborne or physical exposures, conducting laboratory and field experiments, and understanding airborne contaminants and physical hazards.
• Experience in team-based science and working in groups of individuals on various projects.
• Experience using ECU Purchase Order and Requisition Tracking (PORT) software for ordering reagents and supplies
• Experience in maintaining electronic databases and with laboratory safety standards

Special Instructions to Applicant

Please ensure your full range of knowledge, skills, abilities, experience and education are listed on your application. Do not write see resume on your application when completing the job duties section. If you answer the questions at the end of the application, please ensure your application reflects the knowledge, skills, abilities and experiences to support your answers (see job duties section of previous employment). Failure to answer the questions at the end of the application will not preclude your application from being considered but may result in your application not receiving full consideration of your knowledge, skills, and abilities. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.