Research Specialist

Title: Research Specialist

Employee Classification: Research Specialist

Campus: University of North Texas - Health Science Center

Division: HSC-Provost & Exec VP

Sub Division-Department: HSC-CBTS-Office of the Dean

Department: HSC-Pharmacology & Neuroscience-302700

Job Location: Fort Worth

Salary: $47,232.000

FTE: 1.000000

Retirement Eligibility: TRS Eligible

About Us - Values Overview

Department Summary

The Pharmacology & Neuroscience faculty maintain active research programs in the following areas: Aging and Alzheimer’s disease; drug discovery; glaucoma and ocular pharmacology; stroke; Parkinson’s disease; learning and memory; neurobiology of drug and alcohol abuse; neuronal degeneration and protection; neuropsychopharmacology; pharmacogenetics; and receptors and ion channels. This position is part of the Addiction Science Laboratory participating in preclinical drug discovery and abuse liability testing for the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the Drug Enforcement Administration

Position Overview

The purpose of this position is to collect preclinical data in studies of rats and mice, as directed by the principal investigators, for the purpose determining the therapeutic potential and/or abuse liability of new chemicals submitted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse or the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree and two (2) years of related experience; or any equivalent combination of education and experience. Employees in this job may be responsible for conducting research on, working on, or having the ability to access critical organizational infrastructure and they must be able to maintain the security and integrity of the infrastructure related to this role.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Clear, effective communication skills; e.g. emails to ask about or convey rules, regulations and procedures or ability to explain same verbally.
• Interpersonal skills to maintain excellent relationships with researchers and various offices across the level of the institution.
• Attention to detail and high level of accuracy.
• Time management skills including ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines
• General administrative experience with budgets, purchasing, payroll, travel, scheduling, etc.
• Skill in budget planning, analysis, reconciliation and forecasting.
• Ability to determine when decisions can be appropriately made and when they must be referred to a higher level, to protect institutional integrity.
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Knowledge of safety and security precautions appropriate to work performed.

Preferred Qualifications

• The preferred candidate will possess the following additional qualifications: A BS or MS in a quantitative life science (excluding social sciences) such as chemistry, biology, genetics, neuroscience or similar area, and experience working with rodents administering treatments and measuring their behaviors.
• Laboratory work experience in a non-clinical setting (this does not include laboratory course work for a degree program).
• Multiple years of prior laboratory bench work experience and knowledge of drug formulation.

Required License/Registration/Certifications

• Applicant must complete department of laboratory animal medicine certification and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee approval for working on the rodent projects.

Job Duties

• Assist in collection of rodent behavioral data in laboratories.
• Set up, operate and maintain laboratory instruments and equipment, monitor experiments, make observations and calculate and record results.
• Analyze experimental data. Keep detailed logs of all work related activities.
• Measure or weight compounds and make solutions for use in testing.
• Clean, maintain and prepare supplies and work areas.

Physical Requirements

• Communicating with others to exchange information.
• Lifting and Moving objects up to 20 pounds.
• Moving self in various positions to perform tasks in tight and confined spaces.
• Sedentary work that primarily involves sitting/standing.
• Moving about to accomplish tasks or moving from one worksite to another.

Environmental Hazards

• Work with toxic or caustic chemicals.

Work Schedule

Standard work schedule

Driving University Vehicle

No

Security Sensitive

This is a Security Sensitive Position.

Special Instructions

Applicants must submit a minimum of two professional references as part of their application. If needed, additional references can be added after the application has been submitted. 

Benefits

For information regarding our Benefits, click here.

EEO Statement

The University of North Texas System is firmly committed to equal opportunity and does not permit –and takes actions to prevent – discrimination, harassment (including sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking), and retaliation on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status in its application, employment practices, and facilities; nor permits race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, veteran status, or sex discrimination and harassment in its admissions processes, and educational programs and activities. UNT System Administration promptly investigates complaints of discrimination, harassment, and related retaliation and takes remedial action when appropriate. System Administration also takes actions to prevent retaliation against individuals who oppose any form of harassment or discriminatory practice, file a charge or report, or testify, assist, or participate in a related investigation or proceeding.