The primary responsibility of this candidate will be duties in an experimental lab, or wet lab, and handle a variety of chemicals and/or potential “wet” hazards, as well as raw sequencing data processing, data quality control, storage, and delivery for the Genomics Shared Resource (GSR) at the University of Colorado Caner Center. The GSR supports basic, translational and clinical research projects for all members of the University, as well as external University, Biotech, and pharmaceutical organizations. The core mission of the GSR is to provide access to state-of-the-art cutting-edge equipment and technologies in the field of genomics covering Next Generation Sequencing, Single Cell Genomics, and Spatial Transcriptomics for all University of Colorado members.
Duties Performed
- Supports Principal Investigators (PI) and other stakeholders with laboratory and research functions
- Utilizes a variety of laboratory techniques required for research projects
- Performs experiments and tabulate and analyze research
- Supports analytical testing process using standard lab support knowledge in the collection and review of conditions, including preserving samples, completing sample preparation, documenting and communicating results
- Performs pre-analytical, analytical and post analytical test process and evaluate results produced
- Prepares lab for daily operations, including stocking materials, equipment, safety, cleanliness, and related areas
- Maintains results, samples, documents, materials and other items as needed
- Disposes of laboratory materials and samples using well established guidelines and instructions
- Reviews, completes and processes logs, documents, databases, and related materials and information
- Provides support researching issues and developing recommendations to resolve process, unit and related issues
- Reviews and implements lab support policies, practices and programs to meet organizational, operations and management needs
- Ensures compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations; receive guidance and direction or escalate when required
- Reviews, develops and implements new or modified laboratory techniques required for research projects
- Assists and trains junior team members
- Assists with developing or develop protocol-specific systems and documents including process flows, training manuals, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and maintains subject level documentation and prepares documents, equipment and/or supplies
- Assists with identifying issues related to operational efficiency and shares results with leadership
- Serves as a resource to PIs and other stakeholders
- Process, manage, deliver and quality control raw NGS data the core lab generates
- Develop and maintain a variety of reports and communicate data to core lab clients.
- Develop data management plans/goals and communicate project plans and outcomes with team members and clients.
- Cluster server administration (SGE); cluster queueing systems (qsub and bsub).
- Participate in project development and planning related to data management of information systems with current and new technologies.
Additional Duties & Responsibilities:
- Subject matter expert responsible for managing and operating Next Gen Sequencing services for researchers.
- Next Gen sequencing subject matter expert and process owner. Responsible for all process deliverables including project intake, quality assurance, sample preparation, and sample sequencing.
- Execute all protocols for RNA and DNA library construction including: mRNA, Ribo-Depleted total RNA, MiRNA, Chip DNA, DNA, WGS, Exome, Amplicon, Methylation, targeted panels, ATC and FFPE libraries, and pool libraries for sequencing.
- Organize and prioritize all Next Gen Sequencing projects.
- Identify and implement process improvements to optimize project deliverable timelines while maintaining high quality standards.
- Load and run Complete Genomics T7 sequencers.
- Operate, maintain, troubleshoot, and coordinate service work for Complete Genomics lab equipment.
- Primary project liaison between customer and the Genomics Core Lab.
- Serve as primary contact for customer consultation to ensure samples meet quality requirements for sequencing libraries.
- Perform Quality Control of samples and communicate results with researchers utilizing Agilent Tapestation, Qubit and Tecan Quantification instruments.
- Conduct troubleshooting with customers to resolve sample quality anomalies and deficiencies
Competencies, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Expert knowledge of laboratory techniques including safety procedures and techniques including proper handling and waste removal of hazardous waste generated from the NovaSeq X sequencer
- Expert ability to analyze and solve complex problems including troubleshooting highly technical sequencing run errors, failures and oversight of instrument
- Ability to communicate effectively, both in writing and orally
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees at all levels throughout the institution
- Outstanding customer service skills
- Demonstrated commitment and leadership ability to advance diversity and inclusion
- Ability to interpret and master complex research protocol information
- Expert level knowledge of highly functioning processes involved in the production of materials used for and the functional operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of the following technologically advanced instruments:
- Complete Genomics T7 sequencer
This description is a summary only and is describing the general level of work being performed, it is not intended to be all-inclusive. The duties of this position may change from time to time and/or based on business need. We reserve the right to add or delete duties and responsibilities at the discretion of the supervisor and/or hiring authority.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in biology, molecular biology, chemistry, genetics, or related field
- 3 years professional level research experience in data analysis or in a wet lab
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Computer Science or related field