Research Lab Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Department: RENU - SQI Regenerative Eng
Salary/Grade: EXS/6
Job Summary:
Manages daily operations of a research lab. Monitors lab performance, analyzes and reviews results, and supervises development and implementation of new protocols. Assigns work and supervises lab personnel and reviews technical operations ensuring that all processes, protocols and procedures are quality controlled and functioning up to standards. Develops implements and administers budgets, grant and administrative procedures. Co-authors scientific papers for presentation and publication and coordinates writing, submission and administration of grants.
The Querrey Simpson Institute for Regenerative Engineering (QSI-RENU) is a new Institute for engineering in medicine and healthcare innovation is being established to foster, develop, and disseminate engineering-driven technology innovations that restore tissue and organ function to improve patient care and quality of life. The mission of this new institute predominantly integrates the talents of faculty from McCormick School of Engineering and Feinberg School of Medicine to create a convergence research, education, and innovation ecosystem to develop enabling tools for preserving, restoring, and augmenting tissue and organ function. Staff within the Institute support this mission and are an integral part of the Institute's success.
The Research Lab Manager I will be a core member of the Institute's team. Specific responsibilities include: supports operations across multiple research laboratories, including cGMP-compliant facility. This role ensures day-to-day laboratory operations and meets applicable regulatory, safety, and quality standards while supporting active research programs. The position serves as a technical resource for faculty, staff, and trainees by providing guidance on GMP practices, laboratory safety, and proper equipment use. Responsibilities include coordinating vendor services; supporting onboarding and training; overseeing equipment qualification, calibration, and preventive maintenance; and managing inventory and materials. The role also supports audit and inspection readiness through accurate recordkeeping. SOP management, deviation tracking, and corrective and preventive actions.
Specific Responsibilities:

• Manages technical operations of a lab involved in scientific research activities.
• In consultation with Principle Investigator (PI) organizes and plans experiments ensuring those project objectives are attained.
• Oversees and guides lab staff in review of results and recommendation of changes to protocols to improve validity and accuracy.
• Conducts more complex experiments and analysis.
• Using an advanced level of skill, completes the following activities:

Administration:

• Oversees and manages collection, maintenance, analysis and evaluation of data that will be used in grant submissions, presentations and publications.
• Ensures that information is entered correctly into databases.
• Assists PI in reviewing, analyzing, interpreting, summarizing, formatting, editing, and preparing tables, charts, graphs, progress and final reports, etc.
• Coordinates between sponsoring agencies, collaboration organizations and/or other research and/or educational institutions.
• Ensures research regulations are adhered to, IRB and ACUC approvals in place, material transfer agreements properly executed, and that radiation and lab safety requirements are up to date and implemented.

Finance:

• Manages lab budget and inventory including purchasing of supplies and services ensuring that they are necessary, reasonable and project related.
• Orders and maintains inventory of lab supplies, chemicals, equipment and instrumentation and may distribute intra-departmental charges.
• Negotiates with vendors, obtain quotes and arrange for demos of large equipment.

Supervision:

• Trains, directs, assigns duties to & supervises lab EEs, students, residents &/or fellows.
• Provides instruction to lab users on technically complex procedures, equipment & instruments.
• Typically manages a lab budget of $1,000,000-$3,000,000; 1,000 - 3,000 nasf of space & supervises 5-15 lab members.

Molecular Biology:

• DNA, RNA, Protein isolation, purification and expression
• Southern, Northern, Western blotting
• PCR, RT-PCR
• Plasmid preparation
• Cloning, mapping and sequencing of DNA
• Recombinant virus production and purification

Cellular Biology:

• Cell culture, cell isolation
• Functional studies
• Transfection

Histology:

• Tissue fixation/processing: embedding, preparation of blocks and sectioning, staining

Immunology:

• Flow cytometry
• ELISA, Elispot assay

Animal:

• Husbandry
• Blood collection
• Minor surgical procedures

Other (please specify):

• Animal ordering
• Animal post-surgical care
• Basic polymer or small molecule synthesis
• SEM, FTIR
• Purification

Miscellaneous
Performed other duties
Minimum Qualifications: (Education, experience, and any other certifications or clearances)

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in a scientific major or related; OR appropriate combination of education and experience and 6 years' lab/bench or other relevant experience required; OR
• Successful completion of a full course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a master's or higher degree in a scientific major or related; OR appropriate combination of education and experience and 4 years' lab/bench or other relevant experience.
• Supervisory or project management experience required.

Preferred Qualifications: (Education and experience)

• GMP facility experience

Target hiring range for this position will be between $62,000-$71,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data
Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful and competitive benefits. The available benefits package for this position will include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; paid vacation and holidays; paid medical/sick and parental leave; tuition benefits for the employee and dependents; pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care; generous retirement savings options; and wellness programs. For a comprehensive overview of available benefits, including eligibility details, visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.
Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.
Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more
Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement . Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process .
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