Lab Specialist, Department of Ophthalmology

The Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Virginia (UVA) School of Medicine seeks applications for Lab Specialist in the Center for Advanced Vision Science. Candidate will join a highly collaborative and multi-institutional research group to investigate the pathogenesis and treatment of blinding retinal diseases.  (https://med.virginia.edu/ophthalmology/research/cavs/). The Lab Specialist will report to Jayakrishna Ambati, M.D.

Lab Specialist employees provide technical lab support by performing complex lab and research related tasks. They act as specialists on research methods and equipment functions specific to investigations. They have the authority to adapt methods and procedures to meet the needs of research. They are distinguished from Lab Technicians by the types and duration of assignments, as well as the skills and expertise necessary to serve as resources on non-routine problems. Lab Specialist employees perform daily activities without supervision; their longer-term assignments require greater oversight. Lab Specialist employees often train others on work processes and policies.

• Assist in evaluation of research methods, procedures, and techniques based on established objectives.
• May perform small animal surgery.
• Provide basic assistance to researchers in manipulating, computing, and analyzing data using specialized statistical computer software. Evaluate experiment results using statistical and multivariate analyses. Research, compile, and maintain complex statistical, numerical, and computerized reports.
• Perform library and literature research.
• Assist in instructing lab academic sections in lab methods, procedures, and safety.
• Explain work instructions and may adapt general methods and procedures in order to meet the needs of the research.
• Small animal handling, husbandry and colony management experience preferred, a willingness to learn and perform same may be required
• They will oversee security and backup of data generated, equipment function, processing, handling, and ordering, receiving orders, and reconciling lab purchases, writing animal welfare protocols, and regulatory compliance.
• In addition to the above job responsibilities, other duties may be assigned

For additional information about the position, please contact Jayakrishna Ambati at ja9qr@virginia.edu.

Minimum Requirements:

For Lab Specialist:

• Bachelor's degree.
• Three years of experience, six years of lab-related experience accepted in lieu of degree

For Lab Specialist Intermediate:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Six years of experience, nine years if lab-related experience accepted in lieu of degree. Master’s degree may substitute for required experience.

Physical Demands:

This position can spend extensive periods of time standing and squatting while conducting experiments or caring for animals. Also requires keyboarding and other bench work and animal procedures requiring finer finger manipulation.  

This is a 12-month appointment with the possibility of renewal contingent upon satisfactory performance and the availability of funding. This position is a restricted position and is dependent upon project need, availability of funding and performance.  This is an exempt benefited position.  For more information on the benefits at UVA, visit hr.virginia.edu/benefits. 

This position will remain open until filled. The University will perform background checks on all new hires prior to employment.  A completed pre-employment health screen is required for this position prior to employment. 

To Apply:

Please apply through Workday, and search for R0043071. Internal applicants must apply through their UVA Workday profile by searching 'Find Jobs'.   Complete an application online with the following documents:

• CV
• Cover letter

Upload all materials into the resume submission field, multiple documents can be submitted into this one field. Alternatively, merge all documents into one PDF for submission.  Applications that do not contain all required documents will not receive full consideration.

References will be completed via UVA’s standardized process Skill Survey.  A total of five references will be requested via Skill Survey during the final phase of the interview process.

For questions about the application process, please contact Ashley Cochran, Senior Recruiter at alc6dk@virginia.