Researcher

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Position Description:

The Researcher in the Department of Surgery will play a central role in the Buonpane Lab, a basic and translational research laboratory focused on premature intestinal biology and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Our work seeks to understand how intestinal development is altered by premature birth and how developmental, nutritional, microbial, and environmental factors influence intestinal barrier function, immunity, motility, and disease risk. The laboratory uses a range of human-relevant and experimental models, including patient-derived neonatal intestinal organoids, human biospecimens, cell culture, and neonatal mouse models. The lab also supports a pediatric biorepository and conducts translational studies involving premature infants and other pediatric patients. Current projects span intestinal development, NEC, environmental exposures, epithelial barrier biology, host-microbe interactions, and strategies to promote healthy intestinal development.

The Researcher will conduct and help oversee laboratory experiments while supporting the day-to-day scientific and operational needs of a growing research program. Responsibilities will include experimental planning and execution, data collection and analysis, maintenance of laboratory protocols and records, ordering and inventory, laboratory safety and compliance, sample processing and biobanking, and preparation of data and figures for abstracts, presentations, and manuscripts. The individual will also assist with manuscript preparation and submission.

A major responsibility will be helping establish and maintain experimental models, including the laboratory’s neonatal animal model. Experience with common molecular and cell biology techniques is therefore important. Prior organoid experience is not required, as training will be provided, although experience with organoids, primary cell culture, animal models, or intestinal biology would be an asset. Because the PI is also a practicing pediatric surgeon, the Researcher must be comfortable working independently and taking ownership of daily laboratory operations. The individual will help coordinate research activities, troubleshoot experiments, maintain high standards for rigor and reproducibility, and provide day-to-day guidance to students and other members of the laboratory.

The Buonpane Lab has an active teaching and mentoring environment with medical students, graduate students, undergraduate students, and research trainees regularly participating in laboratory projects. The Researcher should enjoy teaching, mentoring, and working closely with trainees at different levels of experience. This position also includes interaction with patients and families for human-subjects research and biorepository enrollment. The ideal candidate will demonstrate excellent judgment, emotional intelligence, professionalism, and compassion when approaching families whose infants or children may be critically ill. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are essential.

We are seeking a dedicated, collaborative, and highly dependable individual who enjoys science, works well with others, and wants to take an active role in building a growing research program. Opportunities will be available to contribute to abstracts and manuscripts and, based on interest, to present research at regional and national scientific meetings.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct and oversee laboratory research using human neonatal intestinal organoids, cell culture, animal models, and human biospecimens. Perform experiments with detailed documentation, rigorous data collection, analysis, and interpretation.
• Assist in establishing and maintaining neonatal animal models relevant to premature intestinal development and NEC. Responsibilities may include animal husbandry, breeding and colony management, genotyping, administration of experimental treatments, sample collection, and tissue processing.
• Maintain and expand patient-derived neonatal intestinal organoid models. Responsibilities may include tissue processing, organoid culture and passage, cryopreservation, experimental treatments, imaging, and sample preparation. Prior organoid experience is helpful but not required; training will be provided.
• Perform and develop laboratory methods including molecular biology, gene and protein expression assays, histology and immunostaining, microscopy, image analysis, tissue processing, cell culture, and other techniques required for ongoing projects.
• Support human translational research and the pediatric biorepository, including collection, processing, tracking, storage, and maintenance of human biospecimens. Participate in research enrollment and informed consent of patients and families when appropriately trained and authorized.
• Manage day-to-day laboratory operations, including ordering, inventory, equipment maintenance, laboratory organization, protocol development, record keeping, safety procedures, regulatory compliance, and maintenance of laboratory resources.
• Work independently to coordinate ongoing experiments and research activities. Identify technical problems, troubleshoot protocols, maintain experimental timelines, and communicate progress and concerns to the PI.
• Train and provide day-to-day guidance to laboratory members and trainees, including medical students, graduate students, undergraduate students, research students, and other laboratory personnel. Foster a collaborative, respectful, and supportive laboratory environment.
• Maintain familiarity with relevant scientific literature and contribute to experimental planning, interpretation of results, and development of new research questions and methods.
• Contribute to scientific dissemination, including data analysis, figure preparation, abstracts, manuscripts, and manuscript submission. Opportunities to present research at regional and national scientific meetings will be available based on interest and contribution.
• Support research compliance and scientific rigor, including required institutional training, human-subjects and animal research requirements, biosafety procedures, accurate record keeping, and adherence to University, Department, PRI, and laboratory policies.
• Perform other research-related duties as needed to support the scientific goals and continued growth of the Buonpane Lab.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s or doctoral degree in biology, molecular biology, cell biology, biomedical sciences, microbiology, immunology, physiology, or a related field.
• Three or more years of hands-on laboratory research experience using molecular, cellular, animal, or other biomedical research methods.
• Experience with mammalian cell culture, primary human tissue culture, or other advanced in vitro models. Prior organoid or enteroid experience is desirable but not required; training will be provided.
• Experience with rodent models, including animal handling, husbandry, breeding, genotyping, administration of experimental treatments, and tissue collection. Experience with neonatal mouse models is particularly desirable.
• Experience with molecular and cellular biology techniques, including RNA/DNA isolation, PCR/qPCR, protein extraction and analysis, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting.
• Experience with microscopy and quantitative image analysis, including epifluorescence or confocal microscopy.
• Experience with experimental data analysis, statistical analysis, and preparation of publication-quality figures. Familiarity with GraphPad Prism, R, ImageJ/Fiji, BioRender, or similar scientific software is desirable.
• Experience preparing abstracts, scientific presentations, figures, and manuscripts for publication.

Competencies

• Ability to complete required training and safely work with laboratory chemicals, biological materials, human biospecimens, and research animals.
• Initiative and Independence – Highly motivated, dependable, and able to take ownership of laboratory responsibilities. Works effectively with limited day-to-day supervision and recognizes when input from the PI is needed. Ability to work independently, manage multiple projects and priorities, and maintain accurate and detailed experimental records.
• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving – Approaches research thoughtfully, identifies and troubleshoots experimental problems, learns new methods independently, and adapts when experiments or project needs change. Strong technical laboratory skills and demonstrated ability to learn, optimize, troubleshoot, and independently perform experimental protocols.
• Organization and Reliability – Manages multiple projects and responsibilities effectively, prioritizes tasks appropriately, maintains detailed records, follows through on commitments, and helps keep laboratory activities moving forward. Strong organizational skills with the ability to support laboratory operations, inventory, ordering, protocol maintenance, and research compliance.
• Collaboration and Teamwork – Works well within a team, communicates openly, supports colleagues, shares responsibilities, and contributes to a respectful and productive laboratory environment. Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills and demonstrated ability to work effectively within a collaborative research team.
• Leadership and Mentorship – Comfortable providing day-to-day guidance to laboratory members and enjoys teaching and mentoring students and trainees with varying levels of research experience. Ability and willingness to train, mentor, and work closely with students and research trainees at varying levels of experience.
• Interpersonal Skills and Emotional Intelligence – Demonstrates maturity, empathy, sound judgment, and strong communication skills. Builds positive working relationships with laboratory members, students, collaborators, clinical staff, patients, and families. Professionalism, sound judgment, and strong interpersonal skills when interacting with research participants and families in sensitive clinical settings.
• Adaptability and Growth – Open to feedback, new ideas, and new techniques. Willing to learn unfamiliar methods and contribute across multiple areas of a growing basic and translational research program.
• Scientific Integrity – Demonstrates attention to detail, honesty, rigor, and accountability in experimental conduct, data collection, documentation, analysis, and reporting.
  

Target Compensation Maximum:

Target Compensation Minimum:

Compensation will be commensurate to candidate experience.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Louisville is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. The University strives to provide equal employment opportunity on the basis of merit and without unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, sex, age, color, national origin, ethnicity, creed, religion, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, veteran status, marital status, or pregnancy. In accordance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Vietnam Era Veteran Readjustment Act of 1974, the University prohibits job discrimination of individuals with disabilities, Vietnam era veterans, qualified special disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, and other protected veterans. The University acknowledges its obligations to ensure affirmative steps are taken to ensure equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment. It is the policy of the University that no employee or applicant for employment be subject to unlawful discrimination in terms of recruitment, hiring, promotion, contract, contract renewal, tenure, compensation, benefits, and/or working conditions. No employee or applicant for employment is required to endorse or condemn a specific ideology, political viewpoint, or social viewpoint to be eligible for hiring, contract renewal, tenure, or promotion.

Consistent with applicable law, demographic information is collected for aggregate reporting requirements. Demographic information provided through this application is not available to hiring managers/committees and is not considered in hiring or employment decisions.

Assistance and Accommodations

Computers are available for application submission at the Human Resources Department located at 2315 South First Street Walk, Room 02C - Louisville, Kentucky 40292.

If you require assistance or accommodation with our online application process, please contact us by email at employment@louisville.edu or by phone 502-852-6258.