Lab Coordinator

Hybrid Lab Coordinator at the Li Lab (Wet & Dry Lab), University of Southern California

Location: University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine

Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine / Translational Genomics

Join the cutting-edge research team at USC Keck School of Medicine, where innovation meets discovery! The Li Laboratory at the University of Southern California (USC) Keck School of Medicine and Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, located in the vibrant Los Angeles, CA, is on the lookout for driven scientists with a passion for single-cell and spatial omics research to help global aging populations live better longer. At the Li Lab, our work is centered around the integrative mining of single-cell, spatial, and long-read multi-omics data alongside the development of cutting-edge deep learning algorithms. Our aim is to unravel the complexities of epigenome dynamics and gene regulatory networks in the context of cell fate decisions, aging processes, and cancer progression. Sheng Li is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine (primary) and the Department of Translational Genomics (secondary), and the program co-leader of Epigenetic Regulation in Cancer (ERC) in the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center at USC.

We are looking for a dynamic and passionate Hybrid Lab Coordinator to lead and inspire our interdisciplinary team. In this role, you are expected to be Dr. Li’s right-hand person in the lab to:

• Manage and handle the day-to-day operational activities of the laboratory
• Participate in and facilitate laboratory research projects
• Contribute to managing grants and laboratory budgets
• Provide mentorship for new and more junior staff

Key Responsibilities:

Wet Lab:

• Leverage the world-class facilities and equipment for high-quality functional genomics data generation.
• Manage and maintain specimens and reagents, ensuring safety and compliance standards.

Dry Lab:

• Manage and administer local and cloud computing infrastructure, including managing files, workflows, and HPC cluster operations, and genomic data coordination.
• Conduct quality assurance on project processes and activities; prepare progress reports and perform scientific editing.
• Provide support and training on data pipelines, protocols, and database tools for all team member projects.

The individual should have curiosity about science and research and be self-driven, efficient, motivated and hard working.

Expertise in several of the laboratory techniques which are routinely used in the Li lab, which include (not all are required, but to have expertise in several is preferred)

• Writing of scientific publications, proposal, and reports
• Computational biology, interpretation of data from functional genomics
• Programming skills (R, python, etc.)
• Cell culture and flow cytometry sorting and analysis
• Basic molecular biology techniques (pipetting, molecular cloning, PCR)

Qualifications:

• The person must have at least an Associate’s degree, however a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD degree is preferred, in biological sciences, preferably but not necessarily in computational biology, bioinformatics, quantitative biology, or computer science; a good understanding of the theoretical basis for experimental procedures
• 2-5 years of biological science related experience (Preferred).
• Familiarity with computers and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• An individual with the propensity for directing other lab members to maintain streamlined laboratory performance (i.e., keeping track of inventory of specimens and reagents, and functional genomics databases organized).
• A self-driven and hard-working individual who has a strong curiosity about basic science and its clinical application
• An organized multi-tasker who pays attention to detail and values research integrity
• A collegial team member with the ability to interact effectively and cordially with colleagues and collaborators

Joining our team comes with a host of benefits:

• National Cancer Institute designated Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, a world class cancer center leading innovative cancer research and treatment.
• Engagement in pioneering research involving spatial, single-cell, and long-read multi-omics.
• Access to state-of-the-art CPU and GPU high-performance computing infrastructures.
• Participation in a dynamic, collaborative research culture that transcends traditional departmental boundaries.
• Involvement with esteemed NIH consortia, including the NIA/NCI OncoAging Consortium and NIH Common Fund Cellular Senescence Network Consortium.
• Utilization of exceptional genomic resources and comprehensive research support services.
• Opportunities for close collaboration with our award-winning faculty members.
• Strong partnerships with premier universities and medical institutions.
• A list of educational offerings, including courses and conferences in genetics, genomics, and biomedicine.
• A competitive salary with added funding for computational tools and for participation in national and international conferences.
• A generous package of benefits and substantial time off among other valuable offerings.

Interested candidates are invited to apply by submitting the following materials: a cover letter detailing previous research achievements, research interests, and professional aspirations; an up-to-date curriculum vitae; and the names and contact details of three references.

The hourly rate range for this position is $31.40 to $33.70. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

Minimum Education: Associate's degree Additional Education Requirements Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education Minimum Experience: 2 years Addtional Experience Requirements Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum work experience Minimum Skills: Laboratory operations and equipment experience. Budget and financial experience. Preferred Education: Bachelor's degree