Department

BSD DFI - Staff

About the Department

Duchossois Family Institute (DFI) at the University of Chicago is using cutting-edge technologies and developing facilities to accelerate clinical research and introduce novel interventions that optimize microbiome-mediated host defenses, with the goal of enhancing human health. By developing new knowledge about the interactions between the human body and the commensal bacteria constituting the microbiome, the DFI is breaking new ground that will lead to therapies that increase resistance to a wide range of diseases.

Job Summary

The job manages a team of professional staff responsible for scientific research projects and research facilities. Ensures compliance of research activities with institutional, state, and federal regulatory policies, procedures, directives, and mandates. Manages the production of articles, reports, and manuscripts, and presents research findings at meetings and/ or conferences.

Responsibilities

Improve bioreactor operation methods to enable routine and reliable use pf pH control, foaming management, and dissolved oxygen conditions to ensure an optimal anaerobic environment.

Optimize pipelines for high-throughput customized bacterial monocultures and coculture media using statistical design, computational modeling, optimization, and liquid handling.

Develops and optimizes a fermentation and purification bioprocess for cocultures of anaerobic microbial communities with desired taxonomic compositions.

Optimize scalable anaerobic fermentation parameters including bacterial inoculum ratio, harvest time, pH control and feeding strategies for flask and bioreactor cultivation.

Leads technology transfer of defined microbial culture media formulation, fermentation and purification bioprocesses of viable anaerobic bacteria for scale-up transfer to cGMP LBP manufacturing in Phase 1b/2a production.

Supervises and trains laboratory staff by developing policies, procedures and/or methods for bioprocessing production.

Provides expertise and training in bioprocess production to manufacturing staff in the DFI current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) facility at the University of Chicago to optimize microbial fermentation, purification, and lyophilization of live viable biotherapeutic products (LBPs) that are selected from the DFI Symbiotic Bacterial Strain Bank.

Provides training to manufacturing staff to ensure core competency with critical technical skills to operate bioreactors, pumps, tangential flow filtrations, aseptic technique.

Leads efforts for developing media optimization and coculture design of culture-resistant bacterial organisms.

Manages research professionals and support staff involved with planning, monitoring, and compliance aspects of research projects. Advises other researchers on long-range plans for research projects.

Develops goals and operating procedures, practices, and guidelines for research activity based on department strategy.

Manages the laboratory facilities, including the purchase of new equipment and the maintenance and repair of laboratory equipment.

Reviews research of others, and may conduct own research, in area of expertise. Edits and approves articles, reports and manuscripts. Presents research findings at meetings and/or conference. Manages the research of processes in clinical or non-clinical settings. Program and use computers to store, process, and analyze data.

Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

MS or PhD in Biology/Biotechnology/Biochemistry/Microbiology/Chemical Engineering or equivalent strongly preferred.

Experience:

Expertise in cultivating, characterizing, and preserving anaerobic microorganisms.

Expertise in pipeline development and optimization of fermentation and purification process of anaerobic microbial monocultures and cocultures.

Experience using anaerobic chambers, bioreactors, scale-up fermentation, tangential flow filtration and purification of live biotherapeutic products (LBPs).

Experience in leading technology transfer efforts to cGMP manufacturing for Phase 1b/2a production.

Experience working in a cGMP environment.

Experience in laboratory management, mentorship, and/or leading a technical team.

Preferred Qualifications

Extensive knowledge in microbiological techniques and methodology.

Excellent record keeping and organizational skills.

Knowledge of regulatory policies and procedures.

Quantitative and analytical skills.

Problem-solving skills.

Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Excellent time-management skills.

Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Supervisory skills.

Proficiency with electronic lab inventory system and databases, MATLAB, Excel, PowerPoint.

Working Conditions

Must have physical ability to move compressed gas cylinders.

Application Documents

Resume (required)

Cover Letter (preferred)

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Research

Role Impact

People Manager

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

Yes

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

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FLSA Status

Exempt

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Pay Range

$110,000.00 - $150,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

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