How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Job Summary

The Research Lab Specialist supports the daily coordination and execution of research activities within the laboratory. 

Key responsibilities include:

• Oversee daily lab operations, maintain organization, manage supplies and equipment, and ensure compliance with safety and regulatory standards.
• Coordinate and manage all aspects of animal protocols, maintain colonies, ensure compliance with IACUC guidelines, and support high-quality, ethical animal research practices.
• Assist lab members with experiments, data collection, and technical procedures to advance ongoing research projects.
• Help develop, update, and maintain required laboratory and animal protocols to meet institutional and federal requirements.
• Meet regularly with the Principal Investigator (PI) to review progress, discuss challenges, and align project goals.
• Present research updates, compliance status, and project progress at regular lab meetings to keep the team well-informed.

Responsibilities*

Lab Management:

• Ensure the lab is orderly and structured to support an efficient working environment.
• Regularly verify that equipment is functioning properly and that critical supplies are adequately stocked.
• Train new and current personnel in proper safety procedures and animal techniques to maintain compliance with institutional, state, and federal regulations.
• Maintain and update animal and laboratory protocols to ensure full compliance with institutional and governmental requirements.

Animal Protocol & Animal Work Management:

• Keep protocols updated in a timely manner, including all relevant work currently performed in the lab.
• Assist with protocol amendments for planned future work.
• Confirm that personnel perform only the work approved in the IACUC protocol and provide training as needed.
• Minimize the number of animals used while maximizing productivity and data quality.
• Work with IACUC, the Animal Care & Use Office, and other regulatory groups to maintain high standards of animal care and ethical research practices. 

Animal Work:

• Organize and track active colonies, perform breeding, and conduct genotyping for genetically modified strains.
• Perform regular health assessments of animals.
• Conduct drug/vaccine administration, tissue and blood collection, survival surgeries, and other approved procedures.
• Analyze in vivo data and support downstream experimental needs. 

Communication & Reporting:

• Report progress to the Principal Investigator (PI) regularly.
• Present updates at lab meetings to keep the lab and PI informed of project status and animal compliance.

Wet Lab Experiments:

• Cell culture
• Histology
• Molecular biology (PCR, qPCR, Western blotting)
• Flow cytometry
• Other standard biological techniques

Required Qualifications*

• Bachelor's degree in a biomedical science or related field of science which is directly related to the duties of the position.

Desired Qualifications*

• Master's degree in biomedical science or related field. 
• 10+ years of experience working in biomedical science labs and working on hands-on experiments with wet labs, lab management, and animal work. 
• Strong background in maintaining and managing animal colonies, including complex genetically modified lines, routine health monitoring, breeding strategies, and accurate colony documentation.
• Demonstrated expertise with IACUC protocols, including developing, updating, and ensuring full compliance with animal care and use regulations for both rat and mouse models.
• Ability to serve as a liaison with regulatory offices, maintaining productive relationships with the Animal Care and Use Office and other oversight committees to support protocol approval, amendments, and ongoing compliance.
• Laboratory operations experience, including maintaining equipment, managing supplies, and supporting day-to-day lab functionality to ensure efficient research workflows.
• Certification or formal training in laboratory animal research (e.g., Lab Animal Research Coordinator Certification or equivalent), demonstrating advanced knowledge of animal care standards and regulatory requirements.
• Strong organizational and communication skills, with the ability to coordinate in vivo work across research teams, maintain detailed records, and support collaborative research environments.
• Experience acting as a PI proxy or equivalent, showing capability in managing protocol responsibilities, communicating with regulatory bodies, and overseeing compliance on behalf of a principal investigator.

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Background Screening

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks.  Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.  The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.