Position Description

Project Manager - Single Cell and Spatial Profiling

University Title: Research Associate

Biotechnology Resource Center Genomics Facility

Cornell Institute of Biotechnology

The mission of the Biotechnology Resource Center (BRC) Genomics Facility at Cornell University is to develop and provide advanced research services for a wide variety of sequencing and genomics applications to support the Cornell research community.

The focus of the Project Manager is to provide consultation, project management, data processing, and quality control for single-cell and spatial profiling applications offered by the Genomics Facility. This role requires a highly experienced and skilled scientist who will combine outward-facing customer consultations along with internal management and execution of lab workflows and extensive sample and data quality checks. The successful incumbent is a highly organized person with excellent communication, multi-tasking, and mentoring skills who enjoys working with other scientists as well as managing operations of complex, cutting-edge single-cell and spatial profiling applications in a team-based biotechnology facility environment.

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities/Anticipated Division of Time

·       Project Management and Customer Consultation and Support -25%

o   Provide expert advice about genomic profiling technologies to researchers, including faculty, post-docs, graduate students, and scientific staff

o   Coordinate with customers planning to use single-cell and spatial profiling services provided by the Genomics Facility to ensure experimental design and sample requirements are aligned with technology requirements and guidelines

o   Coordinate with other project managers and staff to develop, improve, and support the full portfolio of technologies available in the Genomics Facility

·       Advanced Lab Workflow Responsibilities – 30%

o   Manage single-cell and spatial profiling projects within the Genomics Facility

o   Schedule sample submissions and process primary samples for single-cell and spatial profiling applications (performing runs may extend beyond standard business hours)

o   Provide full-workflow support for all steps included for single-cell and spatial profiling services provided by the Genomics Facility, including protocol customization/modification required to meet project goals

o   Manage advanced instrumentation and reagents required for single-cell profiling and spatial profiling services, and liaise with commercial vendors

o   Provide expertise to support other advanced genomics technologies and instrumentation as appropriate and needed.

·       Sample preparation for spatial profiling applications – 25%

o   Develop and optimize methods for specimen preparation for a wide variety of species and tissue types, in collaboration with Cornell researchers

o   Process fresh-frozen and fixed tissue samples for spatial profiling projects in support of services provided by the Genomics Facility and other BRC Facilities

o   Mentor and train scientists in best practices for tissue sectioning, including handling samples, assessing sample quality, and maintaining equipment

·       Data Processing and Quality assessment for spatial profiling technologies -15%

o   Develop and monitor quality checks at multiple steps in single-cell and spatial profiling workflows

o   Process sequencing data through standard analytical pipelines, review technology quality metrics, and communicate results with customers

·       Continued Professional Development – 5%

o   Keep current on genomics trends, including attending seminars, monitoring primary literature and online resources, and represent the Genomics Facility at meetings and conferences

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in molecular biology, genetics, genomics, or related field

• At least 3 years of post-graduate experience

• Experience with standard molecular biology methods

• Experience with tissue collection, cell culture, and microscopy

• Experience with tissue sectioning, including cryostat and microtome usage

• Experience with genomics profiling applications and next-generation sequencing (NGS) methodologies

• Experience with experimental design, project management, and grant proposal and manuscript preparation

• Familiarity with a wide variety of genomics and epigenomics applications and analytical methods

• Ability to clearly communicate complex data professionally to varying audiences

• Ability to occasionally work outside standard business hours

• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills

• Excellent analytical and problem solving skills; ability to identify and troubleshoot problems and guide others

• Excellent multi-tasking skills and ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines

• Ability to handle sensitive, confidential information with tact and discretion

• Strong attention to detail

• Works well both individually and provides leadership within a team environment

• Ability to push, pull, lift, or carry up to 20 pounds

Additional preferred qualifications:

• Experience with scientific teaching and mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students and staff

• Experience with a wide variety of genomics and epigenomics applications and analytical methods

• Experience with a wide variety of software programs for scientific analysis and illustration

• Familiarity with a wide variety of research areas including development, cancer, and immunology

• Familiarity with different research organisms and tissue types

• Familiarity with Linux operating system and handling large genome-scale files and datasets