Research job opportunities

Position Overview

The Institute for Modeling Collaboration and Innovation (IMCI) advances model-based research and interdisciplinary collaboration. It serves as a hub where employees, postdocs and students from a broad range of disciplines work together to solve real-world biomedical and complex-systems problems. IMCI’s Modeling Core supports research across the university by generating new approaches and seeding interdisciplinary teams and its mission emphasizes creating an environment that bridges disciplines and encourages grassroots collaboration. IMCI enables early-career investigators and multi-disciplinary teams to pursue novel research directions and build institutional capacity.

Responsible for providing complex technical support for daily financial operations by performing a variety of tasks following policies and procedures. In addition to processing a variety of financial transactions and maintaining records, the position compiles data and generates routine and ad hoc financial reports.

Job Duties

Support the institute by (estimated effort: 90%):

• Preparing and reviewing, in collaboration with PIs, proposal budgets to accurately reflect the effort and resource commitments, ensuring all budgeted costs are allowable, allocable, reasonable and consistent
• Providing guidance and feedback on proposal required materials as they relate to sponsor guidelines and university policies
• Advising PIs and other research staff on personnel costs, facilities and administrative costs, subcontracts and service agreements
• Assisting in implementing institute policies and procedures to facilitate and streamline the proposal submission process within IMCI, including final assembly of proposals and budgets to meet sponsor submission formats and deadlines
• Providing guidance to PIs, subcontracting institutions or entities and/or any other collaborators regarding the funding opportunity and requirements for proposal submissions
• Providing training and one-on-one support to faculty, research personnel and staff as needed on tools related to proposal preparation (VERAS, Grants.gov, etc)
• Purchasing identified goods and services
• Submitting invoices and receipts for payment
• Processing purchasing card and travel claims, and reimbursements
• Filing and maintaining unit-level finance documents
• Developing, compiling and summarizing data for routine reports and ad hoc financial management reports
• Researching and bringing discrepancies or errors to the Program Manager’s attention for corrective action

Contribute to the team effort by (estimated effort: 10%):

• Establishing and maintaining respectful, cooperative and productive work relationships with researchers, team members, supervisors, OSP and other members of the university community
• Striving to efficiently, timely and consistently meet the workplace objectives in support of the university’s research mission by demonstrating accuracy and thoroughness
• Attending conferences and/or training to improve technical and professional development, including meetings/trainings hosted by the Office of Sponsored Programs
• Assisting with coordinating and promoting special programs, events, conferences and internal/external meetings

Additional information

• Apply for the Business Specialist position.
• In your application, please address all the minimum requirements in the letter of qualification. Preferential review of applicants to begin on September 28.

Position Overview

The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) is responsible for ensuring the responsible stewardship of research funding and overseeing the submission of proposals by reviewing those proposals to ensure compliance with federal, State, University and sponsor regulations and guidelines.

The Accounting Specialist II performs a variety of accounting activities that range in level of complexity from clerical accounting duties such as managing receivables and payables, to more complex duties such as reconciling accounts and resolving accounting problems.

Job Duties

Prepare and complete the closeout of sponsored project awards by: (estimated effort: 30%):

• Monitoring approaching award termination dates and contacting departments and PIs to ensure awards are being either prepped for closeout or that an extension has been requested
• Reviewing agreement/contract to verify final reporting requirements, including final invoice and final financial reporting due dates, and special reporting requirements (e.g., patent and property reporting)
• Working with Department Grant Administrators (DGAs) to ensure all expenditures have posted to Banner or, if expenditures are still pending, adjusting final invoices to reflect those expenses
• Reviewing/auditing expenditures for compliance that posted in Banner at the end and after of the award performance period and informing DGAs of the steps to remove costs if needed
• Prepare in-house closes for awards that do not allow carryforward of funds into the next project year
• Analyzing and reconciling budgeted amounts, funds received, accounts receivable balance and general ledger to ensure financial numbers are accurate
• Researching differences in general ledger balances and process correcting entries or make recommendations for potentially writing off uncollectable or errors in balances
• Ensuring that final invoices and reports are submitted within the contractual guidelines to avoid potential loss of funding
• Working with Principal Investigators (PIs) to complete final and accurate patent and property reports
• Monitoring final payments and inactivating Banner accounts
• Reviewing Burn Rate Report monthly for termed grants and verify remaining balances are accurate and ensure accounts are being inactivated in a timely manner and all sponsors requirements have been satisfied
• Submitting outstanding obligations and process adjusting entries to correct balances if applicable. Seek assistance from management for complex accounting issues

Ensure collection of funds from Sponsors by (estimated effort: 30%):

• Reviewing and verifying accuracy of amounts indicated by Banner process
• Researching, analyzing and resolving discrepancies
• Preparing and submitting monthly, quarterly, fixed-price and other invoices and backup documentation in compliance with sponsor policies and processes
• Working with PIs as needed for technical documentation to be included with invoices as needed
• Preparing and requesting fund electronically from various federal letter of credit systems to meet bi-weekly payroll requirements
• Performing review of balances in letter of credit systems verses balances in Banner and document differences on letter of credit spreadsheet
• Performing reconciliation of balances in letter of credit systems verses letter of credit spreadsheet and research and resolve differences for accuracy
• Reviewing accounts receivable regularly and follow up on overdue invoices
• Working directly with sponsor’s representative to resolve any accounts receivable or other invoicing issues

Create and submit periodic and final financial reports to federal and other sponsors by (estimated effort: 25%):

• Reviewing contractual or regulatory guidance at account setup to ensure that system event dates are accurate and reporting is not delinquent
• Reviewing Banner data prior to preparation of reports to ensure accuracy
• Preparing and submitting federal financial and other sponsor-format reports as required
• Researching, analyzing and resolving discrepancies

Oversee the financial administration of ongoing sponsored projects by (estimated effort: 10%):

• Reviewing and assessing contractual documents to determine billing, financial reporting and technical reporting requirements at account setup
• Ensuring system event dates are set up to notify PIs of technical reporting due dates

Other position expectations to include by (estimated effort: 5%):

• Maintaining and meeting deadlines
• Understanding the role of ‘subject matter experts’ in financial compliance
• Understanding the roles and responsibilities (R&R) as delineated in the University R&R matrix
• Utilizing Banner, VERAS and other University systems for position responsibilities
• Maintaining an understanding of federal, state and other regulations and processes to ensure minimal risk of loss to the University due to non-compliance
• Maintaining professional relationships with sponsors, including responding promptly to inquiries or issues
• Acting as a liaison between the PI/DGAs and the sponsor with regard to all financial matters
• Ensuring seamless customer services by communicating information to the appropriate personnel in OSP
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements

Education

• High School Diploma or equivalency

Additional information

• Apply for the Accounting Specialist position.
• In your application, please address all the minimum requirements in the letter of qualification. Preferential review of applicants to begin on September 9.

Position Overview

The IMCI Image and Data Acquisition Core (IDAC) Manager reports to the IDAC Director and IMCI Director within the University of Idaho’s Institute for Modeling Collaboration and Innovation (IMCI). The position oversees operation, maintenance, service and user training for core research equipment, including flow cytometers, microscopes, ddPCR, calorimetry, surface plasmon resonance and pinning robots. The Manager administers user charges, provides core usage statistics, coordinates vendor support and maintains productive relationships with University personnel, equipment users and vendors. This position will work between 20-30 hours per week.

Provides functional supervision of day-to-day activities of a laboratory or field research enterprise, including directing the activities of graduate and undergraduate students, staff researchers and research support staff. Develops guidelines and protocols for lab operations. Assures quality control; maintains budget; and operates, tests and repairs electronic and/or scientific test equipment used. Assists with the construction and modification of new and prototype scientific devices.

Job Duties

Operate and maintain IDAC equipment and oversee equipment use by: (estimated effort: 75%):

• Operating a cell sorter, confocal microscopes and analytical instruments to acquire optical imaging and other analytical data
• Managing instruments and computers for data analysis, scheduling and use
• Overseeing the Bookitlab scheduling and user fees billing software
• Training, supervising and assisting users to operate instruments and equipment
• Managing user data by ensuring proper storage and backups, and communicating with users about data storage and retrieval
• Configuring computers for instrument integration and analysis program requirements, and installing and updating data and image acquisition and analysis software
• Maintaining and troubleshooting instruments and equipment and ensuring quality control
• Interacting with researchers and vendors to address problems beyond the operator’s capabilities
• Repairing hardware and software issues as able or coordinating with outside services
• Managing equipment service and maintenance agreements
• Coordinating all user access to the core facility and arranging user training on instruments and software from vendors
• Maintaining the laboratory space by properly accumulating and disposing of hazardous waste, tracking equipment inventory and organizing resources
• Ensuring that University regulations, federal laws and appropriate policies are adhered to and take appropriate actions to address violations

Provide effective management to facilitate financial stability and viability of the core by (estimated effort: 15%):

• Submitting user charges for IMCI administration to complete billing in a timely manner
• Reporting usage and accounting statistics to IMCI and UI administrators as requested
• Working with IMCI administration to determine the annual budget, create and maintain service center fee structures and develop a sustainable business plan
• Coordinating website maintenance and updates
• Marketing the core by advertising a variety of results from core instruments and providing demonstrations, tours and workshops to promote the potential of the core
• Promoting customer service improvement through monitoring, surveying and reporting customer satisfaction and taking corrective actions to improve service

Facilitate optimal and appropriate technology usage by (estimated effort: 5%):

• Consulting with IMCI Administrative Team and UI faculty, staff and students regarding instrumentation, technical capabilities and services available to support research programs
• Reading relevant scientific literature and technical bulletins specific to improving imaging and cytometry, as well as analytical methods, for the existing equipment

Safety and Compliance by (estimated effort: 10%):

• Providing a safe and effective work environment and appropriate safety training for users
• Ensuring that all IDAC activities comply with safety standards set by the University of Idaho Environmental Health and Safety Office, the University of Idaho Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Additional information

• Apply for the Lab Manager position.
• In your application, please address all the minimum requirements in the letter of qualification. Preferential review of applicants to begin on August 24.