Sr. Research Specialist; Children's - School of Medicine

The Sr. Research Specialist makes intellectual contributions to the scientific research interests of the laboratory. In collaboration with a PI, makes decisions that may alter research objectives and direction. Performs a range of sophisticated assays. Contributes to writing peer-reviewed manuscripts and funding proposals.

• Develop, design and manage substantial research projects, and coordinate their own objectives.
• Perform sophisticated data analysis utilizing an extensive knowledge base and experience with varied methods. In a clinical laboratory, perform and develop clinical validation protocols.
• Act as a consultant to refine or adapt methodologies to fit research objectives.
• Collaborate in the development of new technologies, protocols, and uses of equipment.
• Contribute original thoughts, hypotheses, and analysis to write reports, abstracts, and manuscripts.
• Function scientifically in the laboratory comparably to a post-doctoral fellow.
• Independently perform assays specific to the laboratory interests.
• May provide oversight and direction to staff, including interviews, recommendations for hiring and evaluation of performance.
• Enhance problem solving through interactions and discussions with collaborators or senior researchers at meetings and/or professional presentations.
• Make decisions regarding laboratory projects that may require assessment, revision of objectives, or altering scientific direction.
• Consider resources and laboratory priorities when making decisions.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Maintain detailed, contemporaneous electronic and paper records for all cell-therapy runs, experiments, and QC assays.
• Organize, label, and track donor/patient samples, intermediates, and final cell products, coordinate storage and retrieval with biorepository and clinical teams.
• Manage inventory of Prodigy consumables, reagents, and general lab supplies; anticipate needs and place/track orders.
• Maintain logbooks and coordinate preventive maintenance, calibration, and service visits for Prodigy, flow cytometers, incubators, and related equipment.
• Use aseptic technique in biosafety cabinets, including handling of primary human cells and viral vectors.
• Perform maintenance and basic troubleshooting of core lab equipment (BSCs, CO incubators, cryo freezers, automated cell counters, flow analyzers) and coordinate on of preventive maintenance/calibration.
• Design, execute, and analyze multicolor flow cytometry panels.
• Perform daily flow cytometer QA/QC (startup, CS&T or equivalent, compensation, controls, instrument logs) and standardized reporting.
• Conduct qPCR/ddPCR-based assays for vector copy number (VCN), identity, or other nucleic-acid-based release-like tests.
• Assist in training and onboarding of students, fellows, and staff on SOPs, aseptic technique, and safe handling of viral vectors and primary human samples.
• Contribute to routine lab/program meetings by presenting run summaries, troubleshooting findings, and proposed process improvements.

• Bachelor's Degree in Biology, Chemistry or related field.
• Four years of experience in a comparable laboratory performing relevant techniques.
• Experience with Miltenyi Clini
  
  MACS Prodigy or similar closed-system cell-processing platforms.
• Experience with CAR‑T, NK, dendritic cell, or stem‑cell‑derived therapeutic products and their process/assay development.
• Additional education may substitute for required experience, and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond a high school diploma/graduation equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

• Master's Degree with related graduate research.
• Authoring, version control, and training on SOPs, batch records, and deviation/CAPA documentation for cell‑therapy process development.
• Experience using electronic batch records (e ), QMS and/or LIMS for chain-of-identity/chain-of-custody and data integrity.
• Experience with cell‑therapy QC assays: endotoxin, mycoplasma, sterility (R&D context), residual beads/cytokines, and basic potency‑style readouts (e.g., cytotoxicity assays, activation markers).
• Familiarity with environmental monitoring (EM) programs, equipment/facility qualification, and assay qualification/transfer for preclinical/development labs.
• Experience with basic statistics and graphing software (e.g., Prism/Excel or similar).
• Experience with CAR‑T, NK, dendritic cell, or stem‑cell‑derived therapeutic products and process/assay development, including QC assays.

Classified

Title:

Sr. Research Specialist
Role/Level/Range: ACRP/04/MC
Starting Salary Range: $48,000 - $84,100 Annually (Commensurate w/exp.)
Employee group:
Full Time

Schedule:

Mon-Fri 8.30am-5.00pm
FLSA Status:
Exempt

Location:

Florida
Department name:
All Childrens
Personnel area:
School of Medicine