Lab Manager

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

The Stagkourakis lab, located in state-of-the-art facilities at Karolinska Institute and the Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab) in Stockholm, is opening its doors in September of 2024. We are seeking a versatile, self-motivated Lab Manager to join our lab. The Stagkourakis lab operates in the field of systems neuroscience. Our goal is to generate a better understanding of how neural circuits organize to guide behavioral expressions in living animals, with the ultimate purpose of generating fundamental improvements and modernizing treatments of neuropsychiatric disorders. 

Responsibilities and Duties of the position

• Collaborate with Dr. Stagkourakis to maintain a happy, safe, collaborative and productive laboratory culture.
• Develop laboratory guidelines, maintain procedures manuals, and evaluate new materials.
• Assist Dr. Stagkourakis in handling email inquiries, helping to prioritize messages and draft responses.
• Work closely with lab members on various lab operational efforts, processes, and tasks.
• Coordinate and schedule recurring lab meetings and events.
• Place lab orders.
• Assist with managing the lab calendar.
• Support logistics accommodations for lab visitors (visiting scholars, etc.) such as booking transportation and hotel rooms, arranging meals, and handling reimbursements.
• Manage travel arrangements and reimbursements (conferences, seminar trips, etc.) for Dr. Stagkourakis.
• Serve as primary point of contact on the lab’s behalf and liaise with various external operational/administrative parties including Karolinska Institute, SciLifeLab, and funding agencies.

• Coordinate and track grant applications, including the preparation of figures, progress reports, and related materials.
• Ensure that published lab data, code, and other products are permanently stored, maintained, and accessible, following lab and institutional policies.
• Oversee check-in and check-out procedures of lab members and ensure the introduction of new lab members to laboratory procedures.
• Maintain lab equipment including liaising with vendors, keeping track of service contracts, and repairs of equipment.
• Assist with lab budget management and generate budget projections for efficient oversight of available funding.
• Identify challenges and areas of improvement in the lab and help solve problems.

This is a flexible role that needs to adapt on changing laboratory needs.

Your profile

We are looking for an individual who enjoys working independently and proactively anticipating needs. As Laboratory Manager, you will support Dr. Stagkourakis and the lab team with a wide range of advanced, diversified, and confidential administrative duties. You will hold an integral role within the lab – directing the day-to-day operations involved in running the lab and serving as the liaison between the lab and various external partners. Your critical thinking skills, organizational skills, initiative, and good judgment based on your experience will be required to manage tasks, resolve issues, and make recommendations. These tasks may be complex and require considerable judgment, independent action, and a high degree of initiative since you will be performing your work with a high level of autonomy and independence. You are an adaptable professional who is excited to work collaboratively with a diverse group, manage the responsibilities of this role with attention to detail, proactiveness, curiosity, and sensitivity. Familiarity with Karolinska Institute and/or the SciLifeLab environments/operations through previous employment is a plus but not essential. Qualifications include:

• A bachelor’s degree in health or life sciences, engineering or related disciplines is required. A focus on molecular biology, or neuroscience would be a plus but not required.
• A minimum of 3 years of experience working in a research laboratory with at least 1 year of laboratory experience working in a supervisory or management capacity. Applications from candidates with substantially more experience are welcome.
• Previous experience training other people on lab practices and various protocols.
• Demonstrated ability to engage others effectively in learning and applying appropriate lab practices.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise others and provide constructive feedback, support, and guidance.
• Demonstrated commitment to process improvement and operational excellence.
• Strong sense of self-motivation, responsibility, integrity, adaptability, trustworthiness, and leadership.
• Ability to work in a diverse environment with people from a wide variety of backgrounds.
• Passion for efficiency, operational excellence, and process improvement.
• Excellent organizational, communication, interpersonal, time management, and teamwork skills.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and analytical skills with a high level of attention to detail.
• Knowledge of standard safety regulations and appropriate laboratory practices applying to research in biology and advanced lab equipment.
• Knowledge of computers and MS Office software.

What do we offer?

A creative and inspiring environment with wide-ranging expertise and interests. Karolinska Institutet is one of the world's leading medical universities. Our vision is to pursue the development of knowledge about life and to promote a better health for all. At Karolinska Institutet, we conduct successful medical research and hold the largest range of medical education in Sweden. Karolinska Institutet is also a state university, which entitles you to several good benefits through our collective agreement. And you get to practice freely in our modern wellness facilities, where trained staff are on site.

In the Stagkourakis lab, alongside comprehensive on-the-job training in scientific and technical skills, we support our personnel in developing a strong sense of belonging and personal fulfillment in the pursuit of the scientific endeavor. The greatest strength of our laboratory is its people, and we are committed to fostering a strong, supportive, collaborative culture.

Location: The Stagkourakis Lab is located at Biomedicum and SciLifeLab

• Biomedicum, Dept. of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 9.
• SciLifeLab, Tomtebodavägen 23.

More information about the lab can be found on our website: https://www.scilifelab.se/researchers/stefanos-stagkourakis/

Application through Varbi

Welcome to apply at the latest September 15th, 2024.

The formal application is to be submitted through the Varbi recruitment system. In this recruitment, you will apply with your CV without a personal letter. Instead, you will answer some questions about why you are applying for the job in the application form.