Lab Operations Specialist

Department Description: 

Dr. Brian Shy ‘s Research Laboratory is dedicated to advancing the therapeutic application of genome and epigenome engineering tools for a wide range of indications, including cancer, rare diseases, infectious diseases, autoimmunity, and transplant-related conditions. The successful outcomes from the research are transferred to the Cellular Therapy Development (CTD) Laboratory, where cellular therapy manufacturing processes are developed before transfer over to the GMP facility.

Job Summary:

The Lab Operations Specialist will be an integral member within the Operational Team, functioning under the guidance and supervision of the Operations Manager. They will play an active role in executing operational tasks within the UCSF Human Islet and Cellular Transplantation Facility (HICTF), a GMP facility dedicated to the manufacture of experimental cell therapies. In addition, they will support the daily maintenance of process development lab and support requests from Dr. Shy’s research lab, while ensuring compliance with UCSF policies, regulations, and safety standards.

The Lab Operations Specialist will serve as a point of contact for the labs and support key administrative functions, including coordinating laboratory schedules to ensure smooth and efficient operations. They will also assist with maintaining and scheduling equipment maintenance and repairs, and help facilitate clear communication and collaboration between research groups, core facilities, vendors, and lab teams.

The Lab Operations Specialist will play a vital role by supporting the work of cellular therapy process development and manufacturing teams. Key duties include assisting with the establishment and upkeep of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for equipment, techniques, and safety protocols; processing order requests, overseeing the receipt, shipping, and handling of inventory, which includes materials, chemicals, gases, and equipment. They will also assist with restocking supplies, maintaining a clean and organized laboratory environment; supporting the monitoring and response to alarms and out-of-specification conditions related to equipment and laboratory environmental conditions. Additionally, they will assist with SOP and EH&S compliance, including investigations, audits, corrective actions, and process improvements. Support deviations, change controls, and compliance documentation..