Biotechnician - Department of Ophthalmology

About the role

This position will assist Dr. Ezequiel Salido, an assistant professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. The laboratory is also part of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine at the Health Science Center, WVU. The Research Focuses On Understanding The Neuronal Extracellular Matrix (ECM), Specifically Examining How ECM Components Surrounding Photoreceptors In The Retina Contribute To Vision And Are Implicated In Various Ocular Diseases. Our Studies Leverage a Broad Range Of Experimental Approaches, Including CRISPR-Cas9 animal models featuring mutations in ECM genes linked to human disorders Immunohistochemistry, Western blot, PCR, Electroretinography (ERG) In vivo retinal imaging, electron microscopy, super-resolution microscopy AAV-based gene therapy and multi-omics analyses Biochemical techniques to study protein interactions and post-translational modifications For more details about Salido Lab research, please visit our lab webpage (https://salidolab.com/).

Responsibilities

• Maintain mouse colonies, including weaning, tagging, sex separation, breeding coordination, cage tracking, and animal record updates.
• Perform genotyping workflows, including tissue sample preparation, PCR, gel electrophoresis, sequencing preparation, and analysis of results.
• Provide support for the experiment to lab members. Dissection of ocular tissues for experimentation. Western Blot protein analysis. Immunohistochemistry on cryosectioned retina and confocal microscopy. Performing electroretinography analysis on anesthetized mice.
• Maintain lab organization, including ordering and stocking chemicals and maintaining inventories.
• Set up, calibrate, and maintain laboratory equipment. Troubleshoot equipment issues.
• Prepare reagents and assist in experiments as needed.
• May Assist With Specialized Experiments, Including Intraocular injections for gene therapy studies Electron microscopy / Immunoelectromicroscopy Super-resolution microscopy (STORM) Bacteria and human cell culture and protein expression. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in mice.

Requirements

• Bachelor in life sciences or equivalent.
• A minimum of six (6) months experience in a research lab.
• Relevant experience in biological research laboratory settings.
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.

Qualifications

• Effective and clear communication of research findings with the team is crucial.
• Engage in collaborative and independent work within the research team.
• Strong capabilities in verbal and written communication, alongside excellent time management and organizational skills.
• Solid background in general molecular biology techniques, essential for daily laboratory tasks.
• Ability to operate general laboratory equipment (i.e., pH meter, scales, pipets, centrifuges, etc.) and the willingness and ability to learn new techniques, procedures, or protocols.
• Commitment to continuous learning and skill enhancement, actively seeking training and development opportunities.
• Efficient at gathering and analyzing information to identify and resolve problems.
• Responsive to management direction, adheres to work schedules, and manages leave responsibly, ensuring consistent productivity and team coherence.

Skills and Abilities

• Effective and clear communication of research findings with the team is crucial.
• Engage in collaborative and independent work within the research team.
• Strong capabilities in verbal and written communication, alongside excellent time management and organizational skills.
• Solid background in general molecular biology techniques, essential for daily laboratory tasks.
• Ability to operate general laboratory equipment (i.e., pH meter, scales, pipets, centrifuges, etc.) and the willingness and ability to learn new techniques, procedures, or protocols.
• Commitment to continuous learning and skill enhancement, actively seeking training and development opportunities.
• Efficient at gathering and analyzing information to identify and resolve problems.
• Responsive to management direction, adheres to work schedules, and manages leave responsibly, ensuring consistent productivity and team coherence.

Benefits

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 15 annual leave (vacation) days per year or more based on years of service (employee leave)
• 18 sick days per year (for when you’re ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family’s, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks.
• To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.
• West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or Veteran status.

Pay

Pay Grade: 15

Schedule

Full-time