Laboratory Manager, Biochemistry, Mitchell Lab

The Mitchell lab investigates natural product biosynthesis and applies genome mining enzymology and machine learning to the discovery and engineering of new natural products. The group develops tools for genome-guided discovery identifies previously unknown biosynthetic pathways and biochemically characterizes the responsible enzymes. A parallel effort engineers macrocyclic peptide scaffolds into modulators of therapeutically relevant protein targets. The work spans microbiology analytical chemistry protein biochemistry and computational biology and the lab maintains a correspondingly broad instrument base. The work unit is made up of the PI postdoctoral fellows graduate students undergraduates and administrative staff.

Manage laboratory purchasing inventory and vendor relationships

• Serve as the primary purchaser for the laboratory managing near-daily Purchase orders quotes pricing receipts invoices and vendor coordination to ensure timely arrival of needed supplies while remaining in budget and minimizing duplicative or unnecessary ordering.

• Coordinate recurring supplies for dry ice liquid nitrogen gases and similar shared resources.

• Coordinate incoming/outgoing shipments and document materials exchanged with other groups.

Oversee shared instrumentation and laboratory infrastructure

• Manage and maintain shared instrumentation including access scheduling training service contracts and scheduling preventive maintenance or other repairs with vendors.

• Manage cold-storage space scheduled defrosting and other shared laboratory infrastructure needs.

• Coordinate facilities and access requests involving HVAC electrical plumbing lighting doors card access network issues and related building services.

Perform and support laboratory research

• Prepare and manage shared laboratory common-use items including growth media buffers and competent cells and strain collections with accurate cataloging and distribution.

• Support on-going projects including cloning site-directed mutagenesis vector preparation bacterial expression and protein purification and hands-on experimental support when necessary.

• Develop standardize troubleshoot and document laboratory protocols and SOPs while maintaining accurate research records and communicating project status in written and oral formats.

Serve as Safety Officer for the Mitchell laboratory

• Serve as the liaison to EH&S performing informal safety audits and coordinating corrective actions.

• Coordinate handling and disposal of chemical biological solvent and other regulated waste.

• Support implementation and compliance for animal research protocols in coordination with the Principal Investigator and appropriate Vanderbilt oversight offices.

Coordinate group operations and personnel logistics

• Coordinate on/off-boarding of group members including desk and bench space access safety training instrument checkouts data archiving shared calendars and roster updates.

• Promote organization of shared spaces benches storage areas and consumable stocks escalating recurring issues to the PI when appropriate.

This position does not have supervisory responsibility. The position reports to the PI. The Laboratory Manager directs shared lab operations and trains graduate students postdoctoral fellows and undergraduates on equipment safety and standard procedures. The Laboratory Manager also assigns and coordinates instrument contact roles among lab members and oversees a designated student backup purchaser.

• A Bachelors degree in biochemistry chemistry molecular biology microbiology or a related field from an accredited institution of higher education is required.

• A Masters degree in biochemistry chemistry molecular biology microbiology or a related field from an accredited institution of higher education is preferred.

• A minimum of one year of laboratory research experience is required (three years is preferred).

• Demonstrated ability to work independently and function as part of a team is required.

• Excellent organizational recordkeeping and communication skills (verbal and written) are required.

• Computer skills sufficient for business transactions including POs expense reports spreadsheets and inventory records are required.

• Evidence of being a problem solver and self-starter with strong attention to detail is required.

• Experience with molecular cloning site-directed mutagenesis and plasmid preparation is preferred.

• Knowledge of protein expression and purification is preferred.

• Familiarity with common instrumentation such as HPLC LC-MS PCR FPLC etc. is preferred.

• Experience with purchasing and inventory management is preferred.

• Familiarity with chemical hygiene hazardous waste handling and BSL2 requirements is preferred.