Position Summary:
The Public Health Research Institute (PHRI; www.phri.org) of New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, located in Newark, New Jersey, is recruiting faculty member at an Instructor level.
The Instructor/BSL3 & Microbiology Core Director will be responsible for the daily oversight and management of animal experimentation and of the Biosafety Level Three (BSL3), Regional Biocontainment Laboratory (RBL), and Animal BSL3 (ABSL3) Research Operations in PHRI at Rutgers University. This person will collaborate closely with researchers and faculty across the campus and with the Department of Health and Safety to ensure that laboratory research is performed safely and according to federal, state and local regulations and institutional guidelines. He/she is a primary point of contact for researchers, facilities, and environmental health and safety personnel. He/She coordinates all aspects of animal experimentation at PHRI. Other job duties include record keeping, and writing reports for grant agencies and manuscripts for publication.
Minimum Education and Experience:
Education & Experience
Ph.D. degree in a scientific discipline – Biological Science preferred.
In-depth knowledge of microbiology and molecular biology research techniques is critical.
Hand-on Experience with BSL3 pathogens, particularly Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is mandatory.
Five plus years of experience in a BSL3 laboratory setting.
Experience or knowledge regarding biological safety including pathogenic microorganisms (e.g. infectious dose, natural reservoirs, routes of transmission, communicability, environmental stability, antibiotic sensitivities/resistance, and sensitivities to disinfectants) in biosafety/laboratory safety practices required).
Working knowledge of NIH and CDC guidelines.Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
As BSL3 Director.
Teaches BSL3 practices and procedures and federal regulations associated with controlled biological agents.
Performs research in bacterial and viral drug development and bacterial and environmental safety with a focus on tuberculosis and SARS-CoV2 in both invitro and animal models.
Develops novel models of aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV2, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and COVID therapy
Collaborates with principal investigators research team, faculty, staff and institutional research oversight committees [e.g. The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), and Radiation Safety Committee (RSC)] on regular basis as a partner in addressing research safety needs, meeting as often as necessary to discuss research work performed safety risks, training and safety material and equipment needs and other measures to mitigate risk.
Advises and assist in developing policies and procedures for safe operations of the PHRI BSL3 facilities at Rutgers.
Works with Rutgers facilities and utilities staff as necessary to schedule preventative maintenance and repairs of the PHRI BSL3 facilities and ensure their completion
Coordinates with the Rutgers Responsible Official Biosafety Officers, EHS, and Directors to provide training for Rutgers faculty, staff and other personnel on building safety, incident response and security procedures.
Oversees, supervises, and conduct decontamination of contaminated systems and run validations using biological and other applicable indicators to ensure that the decontamination processes are successfully completed; work and coordinate with facilities, science, animal groups and others to conduct and successfully accomplish decontamination of laboratory and animal suites.
Works and assists in the annual recertification and validation of laboratory and equipment decontamination. . Maintains appropriate records generated in the performance of work during decontamination, testing, and validations.
Supervises personnel and train to ensure that all staff maintain continuous advance level of expertise, techniques, methodologies and knowledge in operation of state-of-the-art instrumentations for continued safe and world-class delivery of service and work.
Responds to emergencies and clean up spills as needed, assist in extraction of personnel in the containment laboratories, assist conduct follow up investigations of accidents and incidents.As Microbiology Core Director
Develops novel models for detecting drug activity against bacterial and viral pathogens, including select agents, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and SARS CoV2.
Responsible for directing antibiotic drug discovery projects within the Center of Excellence in Translational Research.
Will lead initiatives with academic groups and commercial entities to examine drug susceptibilities pathogenesis and sterilizing agents in SARS CoV2, and in bacteria including Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Select Agents.
Will supervise technicians and postdoctoral students and be responsible for preparing progress reports.
Will monitor lab expenditures and keep track of supplies and direct technicians to assist in these activities.
Maintain Standard Operating Procedures (S0Ps,) keeping up-to-date and maintain expertise and knowledge of current and new and emerging technology, techniques and best practices in order to continuously deliver and provide a world class service to support the safe operations of Rutgers ICPH BSL3 laboratory facilities.
Prepares budgets for PHRI BSL3 and ABSL3 support operations.
Monitors compliance with Biological, Chemical, Radiation and Laser Safety requirements and provides information and data reports to committees as required.
Co-Chair of the BSL3 Risk Assessment Committee.
Manages animal research modeler team, prioritizes projects, schedules studies in ABSL3.
Provides budget estimates for animal studies for grants and contracts for Rutgers investigators and external collaborators.
Assists design of animal studies for IBC, IACUC, and for grant submissions.
Acts as liaison for external researchers; ensures timely submission of all regulatory documents (IBC, IACUC, others), and training of visiting researcher; assists the Budget Office in fee for service billing of external collaborators.
Prepares permit applications for USA and CDC for pathogen import.
Interacts with BEI Resources, a non-profit free resource of reagents; submits order requests, permit applications, and coordinates receipt of shipment.
Oversees and maintains core imaging (FACS and Microscope equipment) facilities PHRI.
Performs all other duties as required and/or assigned.Posting Number: 21FA0137
Location: Newark (RBHS)
