Position No. 0077207T, Full-Time Senior Research Associate

Duties and Responsibilities

Works closely with the Department Chair to ensure there is adequate staff support for the supervision and maintenance of the Department’s teaching and research facility at the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM).

Monitors and maintains laboratory records, ensuring compliance with safety, chemical, biohazard and radioactivity guidelines in accordance with the UHM EHSO and other legal regulations.

Develops and maintains written biosafety program policies including site-specific Biosafety, Biosecurity and Incident Response Plans.

Coordinates, manages and directs the material and supply needs for the lab by servicing and maintaining of equipments and software as well as arranging for the procurement of supplies and reagents with vendors.

Organizes and trains new employees, students and volunteers in adhering to general laboratory standard operating procedures and techniques.

Works closely with the Associate Director of the JABSOM Biocontainment Facility (JBF) to ensure adequate staff support for the supervision and maintenance of the JBF.

Develops and implements standard operating protocols and assists in new and safe techniques related to BSL-3 pathogens and Select Agents.

Works closely with state & federal agencies, including the Hawai‘i Dept of Agriculture, US Dept of Agriculture and Center for Diseases Control & Prevention, to ensure compliance with appropriate Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), policies and regulations.

Ensures a safe work environment by maintaining methods and protocols to prevent contamination, including but not limited to regular laboratory cleaning and proper disposal of laboratory wastes.

Works closely with PIs on experiments related to arboviruses & other pathogens not limited to viremia assay, plaque assay, virus culture, virus purification and other virological assays in the BSL-2, BSL-3 and in vivo experiments in the ABSL-2 & ABSL-3.

Manage and provide supervision for routine maintenance of the departments BSL-2 laboratories.

Coordinates and collects tissue specimens from local hospitals, and interacts with clinical research staff and collaborators to obtain needed resources and project support.

Supervise student assistants, and other assigned staff.

Communicates with local, federal and international organizations related to permitting and specimen shipment, and prepare applications for IRB/CHS, IACUC, IBC, and EHSO.

Other duties as assigned