Lab Manager - Torii Lab

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) advances the discovery and sharing of scientific knowledge to benefit us all. As a biomedical research organization and philanthropy, HHMI supports a vibrant community of academic researchers, educators, students, and professionals. Together, we're unlocking the fundamentals of biology and building an open, inclusive future for science.

Keiko U. Torii, PhD, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, is seeking a highly motivated Lab Manager to join the team on-site at the University of Texas Austin. Dr. Torii's research focuses on molecular genetics of plant development, with specific emphasis on understanding how stem cells are maintained and how signal transduction pathways control functional tissue patterns during development. The lab takes a cross-disciplinary approach from genetics, genomics, live imaging, cell biology, biochemistry , chemical biology, and structural biology to whole plant morphology/physiology to untangling the unique challenges plants face during development. Through their work, the team aims to provide new tools for biomedical research and boost global crop productivity. More information on the lab can be found on their website.

About the Lab Manager role:

You will hold an integral role within a growing lab environment- managing the day-to-day operations involved in managing the lab operations together with the PI (tasks include but not limited to: purchase order, biosafety/chemical inventory inspection, coordinate equipment operation/maintenance/repair, growth room organization, freezer organization, maintain/inventory collections of lab plasmids and germ lines (e.g. transgenic seeds), participating in the research that best aligns with the applicant's expertise and the PI's interest, and serving as both a collaborative partner to Dr. Torii and the primary liaison between lab colleagues and staff members at UT Austin. The successful candidate will have a background in biology and be committed to fostering a positive work culture.

Application Instructions:

Please include a CV, cover letter, and a list of three professional references with contact information (names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses) as part of your application.

What you can gain:

• Competitive employment package at the premier institution.

• Experience to grow your management and leadership skills in a small excellent research group aiming to address key scientific questions in plant biology at the highest level.

• Advance your administrative skills by working with scientists, admins, and regulatory staff members in HHMI and host institutions.

• (If applicants prefers to take some part of independent research project), the opportunity for research presentations at the conference, etc., will be provided.

What You'll Do:

• Maintain proper stock of lab supplies and organize lab supply inventory. Most importantly, biological materials (transgenic, mutant seeds, plasmids, bacterial strains, etc). Genotype and/or sequence to confirm their identities as needed.

• Keep records of equipment maintenance and organize the maintenance of lab equipment when necessary. Liaison with the vendors to organize repairs, training visits, etc.

• Be responsible for record keeping of lab's documents, including SOP for equipment's and common lab procedures, chemical inventory, germplasm inventory, stock inventory, personnel training records, etc.

• Act as liaison between the Torii lab and HHMI and host institution administrative offices on issues such as fixed asset inventories, purchasing, use of host accounts, etc. Participate in the annual equipment/computer inventory survey with both UT Austin and HHMI.

• Act as liaison between lab and host safety and regulatory offices to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations. Specifics include but not limited to Biosafety inspection, radiation safety inspection, and chemical hazard inspection.

• Train incoming personnel in proper lab conduct. May train others in technical areas and complex processes.

• Perform assigned research tasks based on the interest and expertise of the applicant and PI's immediate needs. These tasks include routines, such as: genotyping plants; transforming and caring for rare, transgenic, and mutant plants to promote seed propagation; constructing, isolating and analyzing plasmids; expressing and purifying recombinant proteins; perform small molecule ligand- protein receptor binding and structural analysis; using basic and advanced microscopy to characterize plant phenotypes and fluorescence protein/dye expression patterns. Specific focus on these research activities will be determined based on the experience, qualification, and preference of the selected candidate as well as the lab needs.

• Organizing and managing daily operations of the lab's plant science research program.

• Coordinate and work together with PI and other institution officials in the event of emergency (e.g growth room AC breakdown, waterpipe burst).

What You Bring:

• PhD or master's degree in Biological Sciences, Molecular biology, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Plant Biology, Agricultural Sciences or related disciplines.

• Previous experience in lab management: Three or more years of laboratory experience including at least one year of supervisory experience.

• Experience performing basic research tasks in molecular biology, plant biology, or biochemistry in a large laboratory and demonstrated understanding of the basic logic behind use of specific techniques. Previous publication of an original research manuscript (demonstrating independence) is a plus.

• Previous experience training other people on lab practices and various protocols.

• Demonstrated ability to supervise others and provide constructive feedback, support, and guidance.

• Strong sense of self-motivation, responsibility, integrity, ethics, honestness, adaptability, trustworthiness, and leadership.

• Passion for efficiency, operational excellence, and process improvement.

• Excellent organizational, communication, interpersonal, time management, and teamwork skills.

• Excellent problem-solving skills and analytical skills with a high level of attention to detail.

• Knowledge of standard safety regulations and appropriate laboratory practices applying to research in biology and advanced lab equipment.

Compensation and Benefits

Our employees are compensated from a total rewards perspective in many ways for their contributions to our mission, including competitive pay, exceptional health benefits, retirement plans, time off, and a range of recognition and wellness programs. Visit our Benefits at HHMI site to learn more.

Compensation Range

Pay Type:

HHMI's salary structure is developed based on relevant job market data. HHMI considers a candidate's education, previous experiences, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal consistency when making job offers. Typically, a new hire for this position in this location is compensated between the minimum and the midpoint of the salary range.

HHMI is an Equal Opportunity Employer