Research Specialist
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD, USA
USD 17.11-29.9 / hour
Posted on May 6, 2025
The laboratory of Dr. Kenneth Pienta (https://www.kennethjpienta.com) is seeking a well-qualified, driven Research Specialist. The successful candidate will be expected to be proficient in a large repertoire of research techniques that will allow them to work in both an independent manner as well as part of a collaborative team within the laboratory and with collaborators at JHU and other institutions. The position will also assist with coordinating a variety of laboratory responsibilities.
Specific Duties & Responsibilities
- Maintaining inventory/stock of critical consumables.
- Aliquoting of lab mission-critical reagents (FBS, P/S).
- Lab infrastructure tasks, i.e., autoclaving Pasteur pipettes, CO2 tanks for TC, incubators.
- Serving as point of contact for vendors – including “catching” equipment (like recently, TC incubators, -80 freezer, BSCs).
- Disposing of hazardous waste.
- Training of new lab members, including for TC, general bench SOP.
- Daily experiments that include use of highly technical equipment including the confocal microscope, the S3 flow cytometer, the Wolf cytometer, and the nCounter.
- Work independently on assigned projects, utilizing established research protocols as well as base knowledge of general laboratory procedures and skills.
- Function as primary specialist on 1-2 projects while performing other tasks related to ongoing laboratory projects or overall laboratory operations, per the PI’s discretion.
- Make significant and important contributions to various aspects of research efforts, including troubleshooting, and providing training and guidance other JHU employees or trainees (undergraduate, graduate, or post-doc) in experiments and laboratory assays utilizing specialized equipment such as flow cytometers, use of standard equipment, and/or other routine lab techniques/procedures.
- Must stay up to date on relevant published research and incorporate recent findings into the development of his/her research.
- Run laboratory tests and complete measurements assigned utilizing standard or established laboratory protocols, including the set-up of experiments based on defined standards, the collection of project data, analyzing and interpreting results, making conclusions based on the collected data, and designing follow-up experiments.
- Use basic scientific knowledge to learn techniques/methods of the lab and/or new techniques/methods.
- Perform standard laboratory tasks and complete routine assays following common or established protocols and procedures.
- Contribute to the development of new research protocols or the modification of existing protocols to improve efficiency/productivity.
- Gain problem-solving skills through progressive training, understanding of the research, and experience.
- Play a role in experiments and projects that utilize animal models, which will include both project specific animal procedures and assisting with maintaining the laboratory mouse colony.
- May be required to prepare, test, and maintain standard laboratory equipment, perform related laboratory maintenance, monitoring inventory of supplies, cleaning equipment, and/or ordering of research/laboratory supplies.
- Present research findings and data at regularly occurring laboratory meetings.
- Assist with writing and preparing data/figures for peer-reviewed as well as potentially present research findings and data at research conferences as directed by the laboratory director.
- Perform miscellaneous related duties as assigned.
Special Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities
- Proficiency in the use of software applications, databases, spreadsheets, and word processing.
- Knowledge of medical terminology
- Outstanding organizational skills.
- Excellent attention to detail.
- Excellent time management skills.
- Ability to understand and implement support for clinical trials.
- Ability to simultaneously manage multiple projects, and effectively prioritize each.
- Outstanding verbal communication.
- Outstanding interpersonal skills.
- Must adhere to guidelines regarding honest reporting of sensitive and confidential patientinformation.
- Understands the importance/impact of data integrity in terms of patients, study results,costs, quality of service and scientific research in general.
- Regular contact with physicians, other health care personnel and occasionally, patients, requires the use of good judgment, tact and sensitivity.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry or related field.
- One year laboratory experience performing relevant techniques.
- Master's degree, with related graduate research, may substitute for experience to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.
Classified Title: Research Specialist
Role/Level/Range: ACRP/03/MA
Starting Salary Range: $17.11 - $29.90 HRLY ($23.51/hour targeted; Commensurate w/exp.)
Employee group: Full Time
Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:30 A.M – 5:00 P.M.
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Location: School of Medicine Campus
Department name: SOM Uro Urology Research
Personnel area: School of Medicine