Biological Scientist III

Classification Title:

Biological Scientist III

Job Description:

Manages the EPI Immunology Core Lab research support program: Duties include develop, implement, and participate in various research plans submitted by principal investigators requiring the Immunology Core Lab.

Must evaluate which research methods or techniques would be optimal for applicable research plans. Assist investigators in the formulation of budgets laboratory assays, including providing assistance in development of budgets for grants.

Development of novel immunological assays to detect the presence of emerging pathogens in body fluids to detect and assess exposure to various emerging pathogens, especially those that require high containment including SARS-CoV2, alphaviruses, flavivirus and various bacterial pathogens. This includes validation of assays as well as development of QA/QC protocols.

Development of various cell-mediated assays to evaluate the immune response of humans and animals to various emerging pathogens, including those classified at BSL-3. Depending on availability will assist in performing assays.

Transfer technology developed for immunological testing to various laboratories. Perform bench training of scientists and graduate students in the laboratory and assess their competency to work with high-level pathogens. Develop workflows for maintenance of biosafety protocols.

Maintain Core Lab equipment: This will include developing and maintaining a listing of all specialized Core Lab pieces of equipment pertaining to Immunology in the EPI facility, and where needed, any core equipment, labeling each piece of equipment with a UF Property or Core Lab decal (including inherited equipment from lab closings), performing or setting up routine maintenance as outlined in equipment maintenance agreements and/or contracts, keeping maintenance logs in a share folder, developing checklists for weekly inspection of Core lab infrastructure, developing and implementing standardized log books for equipment usage, performing weekly review of these logs, and providing monthly updates of equipment usage to both the coordinator, facilities planning and Associate Director of Share Resources.

The coordinator will also attend factory certified trainings for specialized equipment so s/he can operate each and provide user specific trainings to various lab groups. Also, where needed s/he will assist other core lab managers in the performance of the weekly autoclave BI testing for the BSL-2 labs and be responsible to ensure the Core Lab area, particularly the immunology bench, is clean and free of clutter.

Assist in maintain compliance for Biosafety Level II Enhanced and III pathogens for this core facility which includes IACUC duties, environmental health & safety duties, and confirm that documentation and training of personnel that work in the core has been provided by the member laboratories. Maintain laboratory organization, cleaning and decontamination, ordering and stocking of laboratory.

Assists with the annual BSL3 lab maintenance shutdown. Duties include attending planning meetings, providing escort of vendors, PPD, and/or EH&S staff.

Other duties as assigned. May need to operate EPI's State of Florida vehicle(s) for the transportation of samples.