Research Project Coordinator

Department Overview

The Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC) is located 12 miles west of the OHSU main campus, and sits on 162 acres of land featuring forested areas, research and administration buildings, indoor and outdoor animal housing, and 2-mile perimeter walking path. Our mission is to improve human health and the quality of life through the support of nonhuman primate research programs that advance our knowledge of the causes, preventions, treatments, and cures of debilitating diseases.

Function/Duties of Position

A key staff member responsible for coordination and support for specific sections of ongoing and newly funded projects using non-human primates in the study of the immune system, immunodeficiencies, infectious diseases, and specific pathogen free non-human primate projects. The incumbent will have responsibility for managing/coordinating protocols, scheduling procedures with internal and external laboratories, and communications with research and animal program units. They will be responsible for preparation of written reports, regulatory documentation, laboratory/image analysis, and materials for manuscripts/grants. They will also be responsible for developing and maintaining study budgets to ensure support for over 1000 rhesus macaques encompassing >75 new and ongoing research projects. The incumbent will also contribute to the development and refinement of research related tools, imaging, procedures, and analysis. Additionally, the incumbent will be directly involved in the onboarding and training of new and current IDR staff.  Individual must have excellent skills with behavior training, data collection, data entry, and reporting of research findings in written and oral formats to local and national collaborators.

 

Key Responsibilities & Performance Standards:

 

Specialized Area of Responsibility

• Assist with specialized projects and procedures including but not limited to coordination with multiple research groups to help ensure that the >75 research protocols involving typically >1000 rhesus and >100,000 procedures expected each year are appropriately organized and scheduled
• in ways that allow for them to be performed successfully, efficiently, and safely
• Coordinate with the veterinary, animal care, surgical, and principle investigative staff to facilitate project expectations, schedules, and progress
• Provide feedback to investigative staff on progress and project goals
• Responsible for coordinating with offsite laboratories for data analysis of biomedical samples.
• Perform and train collaborators on the use of fluorescence imaging technology. Requires exceptional level of technical ability, safety training, and detailed knowledge primate anatomy and physiology 
• Assist with scheduling, coordination, and space management for the animals to ensure appropriate procedure/surgery/necropsy space is available, labs are able to process samples, and housing is appropriate for the experimental protocols
• Maintain working knowledge of regulations set forth by the USDA, IACUC, AAALAC, and other agency guidelines that govern research in non-human primates and ensure regulatory compliance
• Prepare various reports containing descriptive and analytical data, evaluate data that may be submitted for publication or contribution to grant application(s), progress reports, etc. 
• Responsible for developing and maintaining study budgets as well as ensuring inventory needs are met
• Facilitate communication, training, and oversite of research assistants
• Intimate contact and working relationship with geriatic, infant, or immune compromised, and ABSL3 level non-human primates

Technical skills:

• Perform a variety of laboratory procedures, including cell separation, immunoassays, cell staining, flow cytometry, and cell culture.
• Perform minor surgical biopsy sampling, BALs, blood, and other minor procedures and sample collection on non-human primates
• Perform anesthetic monitoring of non-human primates
• Drug and antibody administration

Laboratory Management and Administration

• Responsible for maintaining laboratory inventory, ordering, and supply restocking
• Shipping and handling of animal tissues to various support laboratories
• Make reagent solutions; routine laboratory and equipment maintenance.

Data Analysis and Presentation

• Analyze and summarize data from ongoing projects and SPF breeding colonies
• Track and report milestones
• Present research findings to fellow researchers and external departments
• Maintain accurate records of data obtained during research

Perform vari