Research Laboratory Manager - Massey

All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes: comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, generous tuition benefit, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more. Learn more about VCU’s benefits here.

Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center Mission

To improve the lives of all Virginians by delivering cutting-edge cancer care through patient-centered prevention and treatment; high-impact, innovative research; community input and engagement; and education and training of the next generation of researchers and healthcare professionals.

VCU is committed to hiring veterans! VCU will include a veteran’s period(s) of military service in the calculation of their annual leave accrual rate. This may provide veterans with an increased leave accrual!

Benefits At a Glance

Continuing education and professional development for undergraduate and graduate tuition in addition to mandatory fees (except the transition student fee) for a maximum of six credits per semester;

28 University Leave Days, 12 State Holidays, and 2 Enhanced Community Service Leave Days;

Medical, Dental and Vision Health Benefits to meet the needs of employees and their eligible family members from the Commonwealth of Virginia as well as optional FSA; 

Participation in the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) and other retirement saving options;

Parental and Caregiver Leave, Short Term Disability (STD), Disability Insurance, Voluntary Long Term Care Insurance, and Employee Assistance Program;

Professional development opportunities encouraged and offered for employees as part of annual career development, e.g. certifications, seminars, courses, annual conferences, mentorship, etc.

Summary

The Tossas Lab at the Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center investigates the role of structural, systemic, and individual stressors on neoplastic progression. Specifically, the lab focuses on understanding the interplay between stress, microbiome dynamics, and immune function, aiming to uncover novel mechanisms that drive disease disparities and identify potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets for intervention.

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Research Laboratory Manager to lead, manage, and grow our research operations. The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in microbiome research, with expertise in genomic techniques such as generating 16S rRNA profiles, deep metagenomics, and HPV sequencing from DNA. Additionally, they should be well-versed in profiling biomarkers such as cortisol, cytokines, and other analytes from blood, saliva and urine. They should also have some experience with metadata preparation and analysis, including basic alpha and beta diversity metrics. This role requires an individual with demonstrated experience in launching, managing, and expanding research labs, including mentoring team members, developing and implementing protocols, as well as ensuring high-quality outputs.

Key Responsibilities

Laboratory Management & Operations

• Establish, manage, and expand the Tossas Lab’s research infrastructure, including overseeing safety and regulatory compliance and equipment procurement.
• Develop and implement Standard Operating Procedures for microbiome genomic techniques, molecular assays, and biomarker profiling.
• Maintain and optimize high-throughput pipelines for processing residual Pap samples, blood, saliva, and urine for genomic and metabolic analyses.
• Manage day-to-day operations, including inventory, supply chain coordination, and equipment maintenance.

Technical Expertise, Research Execution and Innovation

• Perform genomic analyses, including 16S rRNA sequencing, deep metagenomics, and HPV DNA sequencing.
• Conduct biomarker profiling from biological samples, such as cortisol and cytokines from blood and urine.
• Conduct HPV sequencing and validate results from residual Pap smear DNA.
• Perform or know how to interpret advanced bioinformatics analyses, including alpha and beta diversity assessments, non-metric multidimensional scaling, and taxonomic/metabolic pathway identification.
• Stay at the cutting edge of microbiome research techniques and integrate novel methods into lab protocols.

Team Leadership & Mentorship

• Supervise, train, and mentor laboratory technicians, research assistants, and students in advanced molecular biology, microbiome and bioinformatic techniques as needed.
• Foster a collaborative and productive research environment, encouraging innovation and critical thinking among team members.
• Evaluate team performance, provide constructive feedback, and develop strategies for professional growth.

Grant Support & Reporting

• Collaborate with the Principal Investigator (PI) to prepare grant proposals and progress reports.
• Develop research reports and present findings to the PI and management for review.
• Ensure research projects meet budgetary and timeline constraints

Required Expertise & Skills

• Technical Proficiency: Extensive hands-on experience with genomic techniques, including 16S rRNA sequencing, deep metagenomics, and molecular biomarker profiling.
• Lab Leadership: Proven ability to launch, manage, and expand research labs. Experience supervising and mentoring scientific teams.
• Critical Thinking: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a results-oriented mindset.
• Bioinformatics: Proficiency in preparing large datasets for bioinformatic analysis and some basic understanding on how to analyze microbiome datasets (e.g., alpha/beta diversity, pathway analyses) using tools such as QIIME2, R, and Python.
• Communication Skills: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills to liaise with diverse stakeholders, including institutional leadership, collaborators, and suppliers.
• Organization: Excellent organizational skills to manage multiple projects and ensure adherence to timelines and regulatory requirements.

Education & Experience

·        Education: Bachelor’s degree in microbiology, molecular biology, genomics, or a related field; a Master’s or Ph.D. is preferred.

·        Experience: Minimum of 3-5 years of hands-on experience in microbiome genomics and molecular biology, with at least 1 year in a leadership role.

This role offers the opportunity to lead transformative research in a dynamic lab committed to addressing racial disparities in cervical cancer outcomes. If you are passionate about microbiome research and possess the expertise to manage and grow a high-impact lab, we invite you to apply.

Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action university providing access to education and employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, political affiliation, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or disability.

Please note VCU is not able to provide ongoing visa sponsorship for this position.

Massey Cancer Center
Masseyhr@vcu.edu