Department

BSD ARC - GRAF

About the Department

The mission of the Animal Resources Center (ARC) is to assist investigators in performing their animal research while ensuring appropriate and humane care of all laboratory animals. The Animal Resources Center (ARC) at The University of Chicago is responsible for the use and care of all research animals on campus. The ARC manages 6 facilities and a business office. Its sections are as follows: husbandry, maintenance, operations, veterinary care, finance and administration. The unit merged with the Office of Shared Research Facilities managing all of the BSD cores on campus.

Job Summary

Principal contribution is the application of principles and knowledge relevant to the support of research projects in the Gnotobiotics Research Animal Facility (GRAF), including work on weekends/holidays. Assists in the supervision of the daily activities of staff operations for the GRAF team. Assists the Technical Director in coordination of work activities and other duties in the unit. Conducts research projects according to plan, including adapting existing procedures to the needs of the project, and making contributions to methodology in consultation with the Technical Director and/or Director. Assists in project oversight and training of staff. Ensures compliance with institutional, state, and federal regulatory policies, procedures, directives.

Responsibilities

Assist the Technical Director in the management and oversight of daily GRAF staff operations (Twice weekly supervisory check on the unit, work assignments and duties as directed/delegated by the technical director).

Assisting with experiment execution in the absence of planned Research Specialist.

Assisting Animal Technologist lead with distribution and coverage of isolator staff and assignment.

Providing back-up to daily unit operations in the absence of the technical director and under their indirect supervision.

Communicating with the unit director on any operational or staffing concerns.

Assist the technical director with monthly unit documentations, accounting.

Provide demonstrated leadership skills (work environment activities coordination).

Assist the Director and Technical Director with the planning of staff operations of the GRAF expansion (Abbott floor 1) space to open in spring 2025.

Coordinate staff movement and develop operational plan for the expansion space.

Assist the Director and Technical Director as primary point person within the GRAF unit for staff assignments and equipment upkeep when the Director and/or Technical Director are unavailable.

May train PI group and other research personnel to perform tasks in the GRAF.

Perform experimental interventions with germ free animals and assist Principal Investigator groups to perform experiments within the facility.

Maintain breeding colony and breeding colony film isolators, records and lines (includes tag, tail, wean and colony status records).

Assist the Technical Director with monthly room sheet preparedness and collection.

Maintain knowledge, skill and proficiency of technical skills, husbandry operations, and supply preparation to provide assistance and training to research specialists, animal technologists, and research technical assistants.

Assist the Director and Technical Director with leading E4 Leadership efforts in the unit.

Applies standard laboratory procedures to support clinical research studies, such as the preparation of reagents. Handles, processes, banks, and ships patient samples.

Analyzes the results and relays them to physicians after testing and examining specimens.

Prepares quality and safety control measures for the laboratory, such as checks of equipment, temperature control, and documentation of quality improvement projects. Under a moderate degree of supervision, provides support to clinical research studies.

Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in a scientific field OR in a field relevant to the research being conducted.

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Experience:

One year or more of Research Specialist experience in a gnotobiotics specialty unit strongly preferred.

Three years or more of experience with research technical procedures in laboratory animal species strongly preferred.

One year or more experience with mouse colony management and associated technical skill sets strongly preferred.

Experience conducting research experiments from request, to planning, to completion with laboratory mice strongly preferred.

Experience with sterile technique practices strongly preferred.

Preferred Competencies

Computer knowledge and skills.

Excellent written, verbal and organizational skills.

Ability to demonstrate excellent interpersonal/communication skills.

Knowledge of regulatory compliance.

Willingness to work successfully as a member of a team, ability to communicate effectively with faculty, graduate students and various administrative offices at all levels of the University, ability to prioritize.

Strong decision making skills and ability to work under pressure of frequent deadlines.

High level of tact and discretionary judgment with regard to access of confidential material.

Ability to work on more than one project at one time and meet deadlines.

Ability to analyze and solve problems.

Working Conditions

Ability to walk between facilities.

Ability to stand at hoods in facility.

Laboratory environment.

Office environment.

Application Documents

Resume (required)

Cover Letter (preferred)

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Research

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

Yes

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

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FLSA Status

Exempt

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Pay Range

$59,000.00 - $82,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement
 

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

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