Researcher 1 - Visible Heart Laboratories

at  University of Minnesota

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in social or natural science or associates degree as a surgical technologist; or equivalent combination of education and work experience to equal 4 years.
• Must be willing to work a flexible work week; core lab hours are 7am to 3:30pm
• Must be able to lift 50 lbs by oneself, must be able to sit and stand for long periods
• Training relative to working in a surgical environment
• Must be able to wear PPE for long periods of time and be around volatile anesthetics

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with preclinical research - animal models for medical research; some knowledge of implantable devices
• Surgical set-up skills and experience acute studies with sterile procedure
• Experience with working as a team member in a surgical - laboratory setting
• Knowledge of animal and some human anatomy and physiology
• Experience with conducting research according to standards: e.g. GLP regulations
• Experience with conducting - documenting ongoing research according to approved scientific protocols and summarizing data in reports

The Department of Surgery’s Visible Heart® Laboratories (VHL) seeks a highly motivated Researcher 1.
About the Position:
Oversee the organization and upkeep of the Visible Heart lab surgical facilities, by inventorying supplies and setting up the tools and requisite materials needed prior to surgeries. Provide support for surgical procedures and pre- and post-operative large animal care. Assist the principal investigators with writing protocols, reports, and collecting data. Interact with corporate sponsors, other collaborating laboratories and principal investigators using good written and oral communication. Provide support for the principal investigator, students, and staff in general research studies and experiments. Must be personally motivated to succeed in a high paced work environment. Specific duties include:
Principal Duties/Responsibilities:

45%: Study Participation

• Conducts research in accordance with standards of GLP regulations
• Keep daily logs of acute and chronic animal study protocols
• Collects raw physiological data according to the protocol
• Organizes data into tables and text utilizing Microsoft Excel and Word
• Responsible for sensitive and confidential material
• Contribute to written protocols and reports for internal and external study sponsors
• Participates in study audits by quality assurance unit, responding to findings that pertain to study data collection
• Maintain meticulous records and collect data accurately using GLP guidelines
• Professionally corresponds with sponsors and principal investigators by phone and/or email.
• Participate and assist with training and educational programs and tours.
• Perform technical services for investigators including, but not limited to, anesthesia prep, monitoring and recovery, injections, sedation, euthanasia and tissue harvesting.
• Responsible for set up of OR and other surgical spaces and maintaining inventory

30%: Lab Support

• Monitor schedule for, and calibrate various equipment used for the large animal research and be able to troubleshoot equipment properly
• Initiate and revise lab written SOPs as needed
• Assist and help coordinate to keep the laboratory clean on a daily basis, including surgical instruments and equipment
• Assemble surgical and procedural instrument and packs as needed
• Coordinate occupational health requirements for staff, updating and maintaining RAR protocols, organizing regulatory site visits (IACUC, AAALAC)
• Initiate and maintain lab training protocols for staff, students, and faculty
• Other duties as assigned

25%: Surgical Procedures

• Assist with surgical inductions and recoveries of large and small animal models
• Perform and assist with various laboratory/surgical procedures when adequately trained
• Monitor animal’s condition (heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, etc) before, during, and after surgery
• Become capable of evaluating and handling resuscitation conditions as needed during pre-clinical studies

Supervision:
This position will be supervised primarily by Kara Heinle, with input from Dr. Paul Iaizzo.
The Visible Heart® Laboratories embody a creative atmosphere which is energized by some of the best and brightest students at the University. Our lab staff has over 100 years of collective research experience and functions as a highly efficient and productive team. Dr. Paul A. Iaizzo has been at the University of Minnesota since 1990, performing research and teaching graduate and undergraduate courses. In 1997, Dr. Iaizzo and his coworkers began working on large mammalian isolated heart models, and thus the Visible Heart® Laboratories were created in collaboration with Medtronic. Today, these labs are a premiere place to perform translational systems physiology research which ranges from cellular and tissue studies to organ and whole body investigations. Additional information about the Visible Heart® Laboratories can be found at: www.vhlab.umn.edu.
Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.
Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your “My Job Applications” page and uploading documents in the “My Cover Letters and Attachments” section.
To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.
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The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation’s most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.
At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America’s Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022)

Please refer the Job description for details