UVA Ophtomology’s mission is to reduce vision-threatening eye diseases through exceptional clinical care, cutting-edge research, comprehensive education, and impactful community service. We are dedicated to providing advanced and effective treatment for vision disorders for patients across Virginia and beyond.

Our experienced doctors and staff specialize in a wide range of eye disorders and sub-specialty areas including cataracts, cornea and anterior segment diseases, glaucoma, medical and surgical retina, neuro-ophthalmologic disorders, oculoplastics, pediatric eye diseases, refractive surgery, uveitis, and optometry. With this breadth of expertise, we are committed to providing the highest level of care for our patients.

Position Summary

The University of Virginia's Department of Ophthalmology is seeking a Laboratory Specialist Intermediate to join the Lab of Dr. Zhou. The Lab Specialist Intermediate will be responsible for performing the complex lab and research related tasks our Center requires to maintain its business processes, especially with the expanding portfolio of our research enterprise. The Lab Specialist Intermediate will work as a lab manager overseeing writing animal welfare protocols, regulatory compliance, assisting and overseeing postdocs and lab staff with daily operations, and first line management of lab business needs.

Responsibilities

• Perform duties such as helping Principal Investigators coordinate research projects, performing experimental procedures, collecting information and data, and preparing tissues and specimens for procedures.

• Manage the animal colony: overseeing and organizing breeding, husbandry, genotyping, receiving, transferring, handling, writing animal welfare protocols, regulatory compliance, and assisting and overseeing postdocs and lab staff with daily operations.

• Communicate with veterinary staff, postdocs, students, and PIs to meet requirements and needs with respect to research animals

• Manage 1-3 support staff who will assist with animal colony tasks, as well as general lab maintenance tasks.

• Oversee day-to-day operation of projects.

• Schedule and maintain records of equipment/facilities.

• May be responsible for operations of specialized labs or research areas within departments and/or fieldwork and related data analyses for research projects.

• May assemble, test, calibrate, clean, or make minor repairs to equipment.

• Train users in equipment operation and research techniques; and explain and demonstrate technology and equipment capabilities, operations, limitations, and outcomes.

• Determine interview procedures, conduct interviews, and assist with VISA processing of new and current staff.

• Work independently on collection of data and analyze research results.

• Confer with PIs in developing plans for research projects and discuss the interpretation of results and the preparation of scientific manuscripts for publication.

• May supervise research support personnel, orient/train new staff and complete on/off boarding procedures

• May manage budgets, oversee first line system processes required by Workday Finance that pertain to the lab, such as account certifications and adjustments, payroll allocation and adjustments, expense reporting, and any additional responsibilities that may require lab first steps.

• In addition to the above job responsibilities, other duties may be assigned.
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree required.

• Experience: 3+ years of relevant experience.

Physical Demands

This position can spend extensive periods of time standing and squatting while conducting experiments or caring for animals. Also requires keyboarding and other bench work and animal procedures requiring finer finger manipulation.

Salary Range

• The anticipated hiring range is $50,949 - $57,318, commensurate with education and experience.

Position Type & Work Location

• This is an exempt-level, benefited position. Learn more about UVA benefits.

• This is a restricted position, which is dependent on funding and is contingent upon funding availability.

• This position is based in Charlottesville, VA, and must be performed fully on-site.

About UVA and the Community

To learn more about UVA and in the Charlottesville area, visit UVA Life and Embark CVA.

Application Timeline

Application review will begin after April 13, 2026.

Additional Requirements

• Background checks and pre-employment health screenings will be conducted on all new hires prior to employment.

How to Apply

Please apply online, by searching for requisition number R0081839.

Internal applicants may search and apply for jobs on the UVA Internal Careers website.

Complete an application with the following documents:

• Resume

• Cover Letter

Upload all materials into the resume submission field. You can submit multiple documents into this one field or combine them into one PDF. Applications without all required documents will not receive full consideration.

Reference Check Process

Reference checks will be completed by UVA’s third-party partner, SkillSurvey, during the final phase of the interview. Five references will be requested, with at least three responses required.

Contact

• For questions about the application process, please contact Jon Freeman, jf2sw@virginia.edu.