Shared Laboratory Resource Specialist I – Gnotobiotics – Hajjar Lab

The Cleveland Clinic’s Research and Innovation and Education Institute is a core component of the institution’s mission, focused on advancing medical knowledge and patient care through research, education, and translating scientific discoveries into practical applications. This institute includes various centers and programs such as the Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Innovations, and the Education Institute, all working together to improve healthcare outcomes. Here, you will work alongside passionate and dedicated caregivers, receive endless support and appreciation and build a rewarding career. 

At the Gnotobiotics Facility of the Biological Resources Unit (BRU), research focuses on understanding the role of the diverse community of commensal microbes that inhabit the human body. The facility maintains and breeds germ-free (sterile) animals that are colonized with defined microbes to support studies of microbiota and host interactions. As a Shared Laboratory Resource Specialist, you will provide essential research and operational support for projects utilizing germ-free and gnotobiotic mice, including those colonized with defined microbiota and BSL-2 agents. In this role, you will perform a variety of laboratory activities of moderate scientific complexity, support pre-analytical processes for clinical trials, follow standard operating procedures (SOPs), maintain laboratory equipment, assist with research operations and complete assigned special projects to advance the facility’s research mission.

To learn more about the Hajjar lab, please visit: link

A caregiver in this position works days from 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

A caregiver who excels in this role will:

• Work with more senior mentors with any questions, training, or other learning requirements to successfully complete assigned work. 

• Work independently or with a more senior mentor, conduct and evaluate experiments, essays, or other laboratory activities of low to moderate complexities. 

• Calculate, compile and communicate data to the Core leadership or internal customer. 

• Perform quality assurance on all assigned activities per procedures or SOPs. 

• Perform intake functions for the laboratory such as logging of samples and service requests, and the dissemination of basic information to users (i.e., minimum requirements for services, costs, etc.).  

• Record work accurately and completely. 

• Maintain established laboratory inventories, ordering materials as necessary 

• Prepare and operate equipment for experiments, assays, measurements, etc.  

• Assist in performing minor equipment repairs, according to manufacturer and Core guidelines. 

• Clean and perform general maintenance on equipment, according to established protocols. 

• Support the execution and facilitation of specialized services. 

• Provide custodial care, fresh feed and fresh water to gnotobiotic mice according to standard operating procedures, including preparation and autoclaving of supplies.

• Maintain animal colonies, including animal procurement, colony/line maintenance and cage inventory.

• Perform established mouse microbial transplantation assays and tissue harvests.

• Perform quality control procedures to monitor sterility.

• Organize and maintain detailed notes on all procedures and autoclave readouts.

Minimum qualifications for the ideal future caregiver include:

• Associate’s degree in a relevant scientific field  

• OR two years of relevant experience 

• Certification in appropriate field may be required per department or core protocol within one year of hire

Preferred qualifications for the ideal future caregiver include: 

• Bachelor’s degree in biological science or related field of study

• One year of experience in a research or related laboratory environment

• One year of experience handling mice in the research environment

• Comfortable handing small research animals

Our caregivers continue to create the best outcomes for our patients across each of our facilities. Click the link and see how we’re dedicated to providing what matters most to you: https://jobs.clevelandclinic.org/benefits-2/

Physical Requirements:

• May be exposed to hazardous biological, vaporous and odorous materials.

• Manual and visual dexterity required.

• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions.

• Continuous lifting, standing and walking.

Personal Protective Equipment:

• Follows standard precautions using personal protective equipment as required.