Research Job at Michigan Medicine, USA | Life Sciences | Apply Now
If you are an early-career genetics or molecular biology graduate looking to transition your academic knowledge into the specialized field of clinical genomics and digital biocuration, this full-time position at the University of Michigan is an exceptional find. Located at the world-renowned Ann Arbor Campus, this hybrid role places you at the forefront of precision medicine and inherited disease mapping. For analytical graduates searching for a high-trajectory Research Job, this position offers hands-on mastery over the ClinGen curation framework, genetic databases, and variant assessment pipelines. It serves as an elite launchpad for a long-term University of Michigan career and stands out as a premier Life Science Job within one of the world’s most distinguished academic health systems.
- Job Opening ID: 278930
- Job Position: Research Lab Specialist Assoc
- Location: Ann Arbor Campus – Ann Arbor, MI
- Department: MM Ophthal. & Visual Science
About The Organization
Michigan Medicine is one of the largest and most technologically advanced healthcare complexes in the world, encompassing the highly ranked U-M Medical School and a workforce of over 30,000 employees. The Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences is an international leader in ophthalmic research, dedicated to uncovering the molecular mechanisms behind vision loss and structural ocular defects. This role functions as a Junior Biocurator within the ClinGen (Clinical Genome Resource) Ocular Anterior Segment Dysgenesis (OASD) Variant Curation Expert Panel (VCEP). ClinGen is a prestigious, NIH-funded global initiative dedicated to building a central resource that defines the clinical relevance of genes and variants for use in precision medicine and laboratory diagnostics.
Research Job – Key Responsibilities
As a Research Lab Specialist Associate / Junior Biocurator, you will learn to extract and standardize genomic data from primary biomedical literature, directly contributing to public health knowledge bases.
Your core curation, annotation, and collaborative duties will include:
- Literature Annotation: Reading and critically evaluating scientific literature to identify, extract, and synthesize genetic data using web-based curation tools.
- Framework Application: Learning and implementing the standardized protocols developed by ClinGen to assess gene-disease validity and variant pathogenicity for this Research Job.
- PAX6 & Aniridia Focus: Concentrating specifically on the curation of genetic variants associated with the PAX6 gene and aniridia (the congenital absence of the iris) to advance this Life Science Job.
- Database Deposition: Depositing finalized, quality-controlled variant curations into the CSPEC registry framework and submitting them for official public review.
- Multidisciplinary Collaboration: Participating in laboratory, biocurator, and VCEP research meetings, interacting with clinical domain experts, and presenting data summaries during national conference calls.
Qualifications & Profile Requirements For Research Job
This entry-to-junior level position is systematically structured to bridge the gap between a life science degree and corporate clinical genomics data engineering.
- Minimum Required Criteria:
- Educational Foundation: A formal Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) in an undergraduate field of science related to the position (Genetics, Biology, Biochemistry, or Physiology preferred).
- Core Literacy: A foundational understanding of genetics, biochemistry, and human physiology, with a proven ability to collect and compile clean data from primary literature.
- Legal Authorization: Applicants must possess permanent authorization to work in the United States. This position is explicitly not available for visa sponsorship, and candidates must be available to onboard on or before June 30, 2026.
- Soft Skills: Highly motivated, responsible approach, with exceptional organizational habits and strong communication skills.
- Desired Qualifications:
- Practical experience with reading, abstracting, or annotating biomedical literature.
- Working knowledge of standard online human genetic databases, such as OMIM, gnomAD, and ClinVar to accelerate your University of Michigan career.
- Familiarity navigating standard productivity software (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Google Docs) and web-conferencing platforms like Zoom.
In short, the Research Lab Specialist Associate position at Michigan Medicine is a definitive route to transitioning your genetics background into a highly sought-after digital healthcare asset. Securing this appointment allows you to bypass generic bench operations and take direct control of the clinical data pipelines, variant modeling frameworks, and public databases that determine how genetic eye disorders are diagnosed globally. If you reside in Michigan, possess a clean grasp of Mendelian inheritance, and are ready to apply your critical thinking to the PAX6 genome, apply before the June 29, 2026 deadline to secure this premier Research Job, launch a highly distinguished University of Michigan career, and lock in this outstanding Life Science Job.
