Research Program Manager - Military Veterans

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.

The Biochemistry Department seeks a highly motivated PhD-level scientist to serve as a Program Manager to support, streamline, and expand research infrastructure and operations within the department. This position will work closely with faculty, staff, and trainees to maintain and develop shared resources and educational programs to enhance cutting-edge research across the department. The ideal candidate will have a strong technical background, a collaborative spirit, and a passion for training others to optimize scientific endeavors.

Key responsibilities will include (a combination of) the following:

Equipment Training and Access:

• Develop inventory of current and planned shared instrumentation.
• Develop and improve user guides and standard operating procedures for shared equipment.
• Train users in use of shared equipment, including data collection and interpretation.
• Implement online booking system as appropriate to manage access to specific equipment.

Technical Maintenance and Evaluation:

• Assist in monitoring shared equipment, coordinate routine maintenance, troubleshoot technical issues.
• Evaluate new technologies and/or upgrades to enhance research capabilities across the department.

Consultation, Support, and Education:

• Hold weekly office hours to address questions/challenges related to shared technology.
• Provide 1:1 or group consultations for experimental design and troubleshooting involving shared resources.
• Develop and deliver educational sessions on specialized equipment (available within the department or elsewhere on campus), for example ?Tech Clinics? that target identified interests/needs (e.g. troubleshooting FPLC systems, optimizing assays on multimode plate readers, using the cryo-EM facility, etc.).

Outreach and Coordination:

• Together with Assoc Chair for Research, host quarterly equipment committee mtgs to share progress, troubleshoot challenges, and discuss research needs across department.
• Collaborate with faculty to assess and meet emerging needs, planning for new equipment and/or enhanced sharing. Identify and assess underutilized resources and develop strategies to increase accessibility and use.
• Develop familiarity with current state of core facilities relevant to departmental interests (e.g. biochemistry, biophysics, structural biology, genomics, etc.) across UM. Direct faculty/trainees to appropriate resources.
• Innovation Newsletter: Curate a quarterly update featuring new equipment, techniques, or opportunities for collaboration within and beyond the department.

Trainee Engagement:

• Support trainees by prioritizing their input in choosing topics for educational sessions as above.
• Technology Ambassador Program: Recruit and provide mentorship/support for a few graduate students to act as technology advocates in their respective research areas.
• Launch/oversee M3 type program to support trainee-driven collaborative projects.

Research Support:

• Partner with labs to pilot new technologies or techniques and help integrate them into their projects.
• Support incoming faculty as they evaluate equipment and space needs, purchasing decisions, etc.

Administrative:

• Partner with Chair/Assoc Chair/CDA and Medical School Facilities to support equipment-related needs.
• Collaborate with Chair/Assoc Chair/CDA on strategic planning to support shared instrumentation.
• Collaborate on special projects as appropriate, e.g. centrifuge replacement, etc.

• PhD in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, or a closely related field.
• Strong technical expertise in laboratory instrumentation and experimental design.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills for engaging with a diverse group of researchers.
• Teaching or mentoring experience is a plus.

Michigan Medicine conducts background screening and pre-employment drug testing on job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent job offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background screenings. Background screenings are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Report Act. Pre-employment drug testing applies to all selected candidates, including new or additional faculty and staff appointments, as well as transfers from other U-M campuses.

Michigan Medicine improves the health of patients, populations and communities through excellence in education, patient care, community service, research and technology development, and through leadership activities in Michigan, nationally and internationally. Our mission is guided by our Strategic Principles and has three critical components; patient care, education and research that together enhance our contribution to society.

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.

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.