Career Center

The Antiviral Drug Discovery Center (AViDD) at University of Minnesota aims to find therapeutic interventions to help prevent and treat future viral pandemics. The Cellular and Organismic Systems Core supports the entire Midwest AViDD Center by coordinating and implementing cell and animal antiviral testing experiments for the entire center. Based at the University of Minnesota, Boston University and the University of Iowa, the Cellular and Organismic Systems Core provides the specialized resources and administrative framework for performing cellular and animal BSL2, BSL3, BSL4 studies. This Core will focus on SARS-CoV-2, Zika virus, Ebola virus and Lassa virus. This core will evaluate validated hits through high throughput screening, evaluate refined compounds for antiviral activity and dose response, the potential for escape, and efficacy in primary human cells. Finally, compounds that demonstrate efficacy in vitro will be evaluated for prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy in relevant animal disease models.

The core manager will help to develop assays to evaluate antiviral compounds, manage all aspects of the core including; regulatory, logistics, budgeting, supply chain, etc. They will also serve as a resource for over 40 Co-Investigators from 14 different sites comprising over 100 research staff members.

Job duties will include:

Research Operations (60%)

• Provide strategic direction and oversight for virology core operations; responsible for all aspects of antiviral testing operations including assay and protocol development, assay performance, prepare data for internal and external reporting, shipping and logistics for antiviral compounds, data integrity, fiscal oversight, and regulatory compliance.

Management (30%)

• Oversee all aspects of core research personnel management, staffing decisions and training
• Will schedule and attend Core meetings and provide meeting minutes
• Managing supplies and ordering
• Effective financial management of the program, including partnering with program/department accountants
• Oversee compliant facility operations, including BSL3 oversight and inspections
• Direct and prioritize program resources and staff effort
• Prepare grant reports
• Serve as a resource for over 40 Co-Investigators from 14 different sites comprising over 100 research staff members

Other duties as assigned (10%)

Required Qualification:

• Bachelors degree and 10 years of experience or advanced degree and 8 years of experience, in research project management and/or research support
• Managerial experience, to include staff supervision and budget management
• Experience writing and maintain regulatory protocols including institutional biosafety, institutional animal care and use, etc.
• Demonstrated record of effective collaboration, collaborative leadership, and success in building and sustaining partnerships
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
• Outstanding organizational and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated history with working with multi department/institutional projects
• Experience working BSL2, BSL2+, or BSL3 environments
• Experience with assay development, particularly for cell culture studies
• Experience working with small animal models
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, make decisions, problem solve, and prioritize research efforts in line with research missions
• Experience with grant reporting and preparing and publishing scientific manuscripts

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in health sciences, public health, or related area
• Demonstrated experience with collaborative leadership models
• Demonstrated leadership experience at local, state or national level