Summary

The Laboratory Manager oversees daily operations of a specialized core facility supporting induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) research, ensuring adherence to Good Laboratory Practices and regulatory standards. This role manages technical personnel, coordinates sample workflows, monitors budgets and procurement, and maintains laboratory service platforms such as iLab. The manager also leads protocol development, trains users in advanced cellular techniques, and fosters collaborations across the Texas Medical Center. This is a hands-on leadership role combining research, administration, and user support in a dynamic shared-resource environment.

Job Duties

• Manages daily responsibilities of 1–2 Research Assistants, ensuring compliance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) standards for patient sample handling. 
• Oversees accurate cataloging, sample tracking, and final report preparation for return to ordering laboratories across BCM and partner institutions. 
• Provides performance feedback, technical training, and quality control oversight. 
• Coordinates administrative operations including inventory management and procurement of laboratory supplies. 
• Monitors and reconciles expenditures across core operational and grant-specific budgets totaling approximately $250,000 annually. 
• Ensures uninterrupted lab operations through vendor coordination and routine purchasing oversight.
• Maintains and updates the lab’s BCM iLab portal, including service listings, pricing tiers, user support, and billing reconciliation.
• Assists users with request submissions, generates cost estimates for grant applications, and ensures accurate data collection for compliance and internal reporting. Supports approximately 100 unique users annually. 
• Leads outreach to TMC-affiliated labs to promote use of shared cell sorting equipment, particularly for fragile iPSC-derived cells. 
• Trains 15–20 new users annually, provides experimental design guidance, and ensures proper instrument use to maximize data quality and instrument longevity. 
• Establishes and maintains equipment maintenance schedules, coordinates vendor service calls, and documents repair events. 
• Tracks instrument performance and makes recommendations for replacement or capital investment based on usage trends and reliability. 
• Develops and validates novel cellular protocols using iPSCs in support of evolving research needs. 
• Leads production of new cellular models, implements best practices, and trains technical staff and researchers on established workflows to support downstream applications and expand the lab’s service capabilities. 
• Oversees daily operations and personnel within a highly specialized induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) Core, ensuring all sample processing, cataloging, and returns are conducted under strict compliance with GLP standards and institutional protocols.
• Directly supervises and trains Research Assistants in iPSC-related workflows, including reprogramming, maintenance, and differentiation protocols.
• Maintains operational readiness by managing inventory, ordering critical reagents, coordinating with vendors, and overseeing proper allocation of supplies across multiple active projects.
• Monitors and reconciles spending from Core-specific budgets and grant funds, collaborating with finance personnel to ensure appropriate use of restricted funds.
• Maintains the Core’s iLab service portal, customizing service menus, adjusting pricing based on user categories, managing billing processes, and supporting users during service request submission.
• Promotes Core services through collaboration and outreach to research teams across the Texas Medical Center, specifically advocating for use of the Core’s gentle sorter platform for sensitive iPSC-derived samples.
• Conducts protocol development for novel cellular models and validates new workflows to expand the Core’s scientific offerings and attract additional service users.
• Ensures functionality and regulatory compliance of all shared instrumentation through regular maintenance scheduling, vendor communication, and performance tracking.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a Basic Science or related field. Four years of related experience may substitute for degree requirement.
• Five years of relevant experience.
   

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Biology, Biomedical Sciences, or a related field, with strong emphasis on stem cell or iPSC-based research. 
• Candidates should have prior experience supervising lab personnel and demonstrated expertise in iPSC culture, reprogramming, and differentiation techniques. 
• Familiarity with GLP standards, core facility operations, and platforms like iLab is highly desirable. 
• Strong communication, organizational, and protocol development skills are essential for success in this collaborative, multi-user environment.