Job Description Summary

The Laboratory Technologist IV is responsible for the daily operational oversight of the laboratory, ensuring efficient execution of research activities and maintaining high standards of scientific rigor, quality control, and regulatory compliance. This individual provides direct supervision of laboratory personnel and coordinates day-to-day functions to support the Principal Investigator’s research program. Directs large, complex research projects in a clinical or research setting, ensuring all laboratory staff follow and adhere to safety and all applicable health policies and regulations

Entity

Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC - Univ)

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub-Type​

Research Grant

Cost Center

CC001058 COM Radiation Oncology

Pay Rate Type

Salary

Pay Grade

University-GEN11

Pay Range

66,400.00 - 92,900.00 - 119,500.000

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Work Shift

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

Personnel and Lab Operations Management (30%): Oversee daily laboratory operations and supervise laboratory staff. Ensure proper planning, coordination, and execution of experiments across multiple projects. Assist in onboarding and training of laboratory personnel. Conducts annual and intermittent performance reviews of supervised research staff in accordance with MUSC Human Resources Policies and Procedures. Supervises and directs laboratory personnel across multiple concurrent workflows, including assignment of responsibilities, oversight of performance, and coordination of high-throughput activities.

• Oversees a large laboratory operation performing a high volume of specialized procedures and tests across multiple research studies. Coordinates and oversees biospecimen processing, tracking, and analysis for multi-center therapeutic research studies, ensuring standardization of workflows and integration of results. Responsible for scaling laboratory processing capacity to approximately 5,000 specimens annually within 3 years to support expanding translational research programs.

• Develops and conducts advanced technical training programs for laboratory personnel, including competency development and oversight.

• Develops data and provides recommendations for laboratory budget and resource planning, including equipment, reagent, and personnel needs.

Purchasing and Inventory Management (20%): Manage research inventory, ordering, and stocking of supplies and reagents. Maintain and troubleshoot laboratory equipment; coordinate servicing, calibration, and preventive maintenance. Works with Finance Manager for AIMS inventory reporting related to existing and new research equipment.

Research Design and Collaboration (30%): Design and conduct experiments for research projects. Conduct comprehensive analysis of ddpcr and NGS data and interpret results. Ensure compliance with institutional, biosafety, chemical safety, and regulatory requirements. Plans and directs the technical and administrative activities of a high-complexity molecular laboratory focused on development and validation of ctDNA-based assays.

• Performs and directs highly specialized molecular examinations and procedures, including development, optimization, and validation of advanced assays for low-frequency variant detection.

• Develop, implement, and maintain laboratory standard operating procedures (SOPs) and quality systems. Support assay development, optimization, validation, and documentation. Coordinate activities with institutional core facilities, clinical teams, and external collaborators. Monitors all lab personnel to ensure adherence to safety and health policies and regulations, as well as federal and state mandates and accepted scientific practices. Follows IRB, human subjects, ACUC, and other State, Institutional and Federal regulatory protocols, as needed. Ensures laboratory activities are conducted in accordance with institutional and regulatory requirements and accepted scientific standards.

• Develops and implements technical and administrative policies, procedures, and protocols to support laboratory scalability, reproducibility, and quality.

• Leads development of new laboratory methods and workflows and supports advancement of research assays toward clinical-grade performance.

• Leads preparatory work to transition laboratory workflows toward CLIA-aligned processes, including development of documentation, quality systems, and assay standardization.

Special Projects and Consultation (20%): Prepares periodic and special narrative and statistical reports to advise principal investigators and others on research techniques and procedures. Oversees and performs examination and testing for clinical and basic sciences research purposes. Assists with grant and research proposal submissions. Plans and organizes research and evaluation of scientific literature; composes and reviews articles for publication in scientific journals. Uses manual and computer techniques to analyze research data. Prepares periodic and special narrative and statistical reports on laboratory operations, including throughput, assay performance, and workflow efficiency; reviews and evaluates reports prepared by laboratory staff. Provides technical consultative expertise to investigators and collaborators regarding assay design, feasibility, and implementation.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science degree in medical technology, microbiology, biochemistry or a closely related field and relevant experience in a clinical or research laboratory environment.

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant laboratory experience, preferably in an academic, translational, or biotechnology setting

• Demonstrated experience with next-generation sequencing (NGS), digital droplet PCR (ddPCR), liquid handling/automation platforms, and related molecular assay development preferred

• Strong organizational, project management, and supervisory skills

• Experience maintaining regulatory compliance and quality control standards

The Laboratory Technologist IV plays a central role in ensuring operational excellence, scientific productivity, and effective collaboration across the department, school, and external partners.

Additional Job Description

Minimum Requirements: A bachelor's degree in medical technology, microbiology, biochemistry or a closely related field and two years work experience as a medical technologist in a supervisory, teaching or consulting capacity. Physical Requirements: (Note: The following descriptions are applicable to this section: Continuous - 6-8 hours per shift; Frequent - 2-6 hours per shift; Infrequent - 0-2 hours per shift) Ability to perform job functions in an upright position. (Continuous) Ability to perform job functions in a seated position. (Continuous) Ability to perform job functions while walking/mobile. (Frequent) Ability to climb stairs. (Infrequent) Ability to work indoors. (Continuous) Ability to work in all cold temperature extremes, i.e. spot coolers. (Frequent) Ability to bend at the waist. (Frequent) Ability to twist at the waist. (Frequent) Ability to perform 'pinching' operations. (Continuous) Ability to fully use both hands/arms. (Continuous) Ability to perform repetitive motions with hands/wrists/elbows and shoulders. (Continuous) Ability to fully use both legs. (Continuous) Ability to reach in all directions. (Continuous) Possess good finger dexterity. (Continuous) Ability to maintain tactile sensory functions. (Continuous) Ability to maintain good olfactory sensory function. (Continuous) Ability to lift and carry 30 lbs., unassisted. (Frequent) Ability to lift objects, up to 30 lbs., from floor level to height of 72 inches, unassisted. (Frequent) Ability to lower objects, up to 30 lbs., from height of 72 inches to floor level, unassisted. (Frequent) Ability to push/pull objects, up to 50 lbs., unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to lift and carry objects up to 30 lbs. a distance of five (5) floors and to outlying buildings. (Frequent) Ability to maintain 20/40 vision, corrected. (Continuous) Ability to see and recognize objects close at hand. (Continuous) Ability to see and recognize objects at a distance. (Continuous) Ability to match or discriminate between colors. (Continuous) Ability to determine distance/relationship between objects; depth perception. (Continuous) Good peripheral vision capabilities. (Continuous) Ability to maintain hearing acuity, with correction. (Continuous) Ability to perform gross motor functions with frequent fine motor movements. (Continuous) Ability to be qualified physically (by medical personnel) for respirator use, initially and annually. Ability to work alone in isolated areas, such as darkrooms. (Frequent) Additional New Requirements: Ability to obtain and maintain a valid driver’s license. Computer literacy. Ability to work rotating shifts as required. Ability to work overtime as required. Ability to learn and use new processes, tools and equipment as required.

If you like working with energetic enthusiastic individuals, you will enjoy your career with us!

The Medical University of South Carolina is an Equal Opportunity Employer. MUSC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, age, sex, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected veteran status, family or parental status, or any other status protected by state laws and/or federal regulations. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment based upon applicable qualifications, merit and business need.

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