Director, Research Organisms - REQID0002452

The Stowers Institute for Medical Research is seeking a Director of Research Organisms. In summary, the director in this role will plan, organize, and direct the professional and technical services for laboratory animal care, veterinary medical services, facilitate a collaborative environment for animal use with the Stowers investigators, and collaborate with the Genome Engineering team for transgenic and gene targeting technologies for in vivo gene function analysis and generation of animal models. This director position will report to the Chief Operating Officer.

Duties

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the Terrestrial and Aquatics facilities.
• Ensure effective animal health and welfare is maintained throughout the facilities.
• Approve appropriate purchase and maintenance of state-of-the-art laboratory equipment.
• Ensure accurate record keeping of research animals.
• Comply with breeding procedures for adequate production and disposal of animals according to established procedures.
• Participate in hiring, training, and development of all staff.
• Ensure compliance with the standards for effective facility operations according to IACUC protocols.
• Collaborate with EH&S, Quality, and Regulatory Systems on AALAC certification process.
• Comply with standard operating procedures and best practices for organism maintenance and documentation.
• Support collaborations with internal stakeholders by coordinating organism availability and fostering partnerships.
• Assign staff to establish and maintain specialized research colonies.
• Train and provide oversight in transgenesis and molecular biology techniques.
• Ensure adequate production and maintenance of transgenic species as necessary for research.
• Train and provide oversight in cryopreservation of germplasm of various species.
• Review investigator requests for specialized services and assign staff as appropriate.
• Engage with researchers to understand their needs and identify opportunities for organism-based innovation.
• Align with scientific leadership on strategies for use of research organisms to push the science of the Institute.

Education

• A post-graduate degree in developmental biology or a related discipline is preferred.
• Applicants who are USDA-licensed veterinarians and board-certified by the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM) are encouraged to apply, though this is not a requirement.

Minimum Experience

• Three to five years of postdoctoral research experience or three-five years of increasing leadership responsibility in an academic or research setting.
• An established publications record.
• Experience with the on-boarding of various model organisms, both terrestrial and aquatic, as well as development of husbandry methods for non-standard animal models.
• One to three years of participation on an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).
• Participation in AAALAC Site Visits.
• Three to five years experience in management of animal husbandry.
• Experience in a pathogen-free barrier animal facility is preferred.

To Apply

Submit the requested documents to careers@stowers.org or to Administration Department, Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 E 50th Street, Kansas City, MO 64110.

Requested Documents

• Current CV
• Cover Letter