Instructional Support Technician II - Cell & Molecular Biology

About the role

The Instructional Support Tech II is responsible for providing overall instructional support for undergraduate and graduate laboratory courses in cell and molecular biology, as well as support for related courses and research as necessary.

Responsibilities

• Ordering and preparation of supplies, reagents, prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell cultures, and experimental set-up.
• Safe storage and handling of materials and equipment in the cell/molecular area.
• Laboratory preparation and ordering for cell/molecular courses.
• Preparing and/or maintaining all reagents, supplies and consumables, eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell cultures and nucleic acid samples.
• Care of and coordination of chemical, laboratory and biological safety in assigned spaces, including maintaining a chemical inventory, ensuring proper handling and disposal of chemical and biohazardous waste, conducting inspections, and maintaining updated safety documentation.
• Troubleshooting and basic routine maintenance of equipment used in cell and molecular biology laboratory courses, including biosafety cabinets, incubators, microscopes, thermocyclers, and other routine equipment.
• Providing lead work direction to undergraduate and/or graduate students.

Requirements

• Knowledge of the principles of performing support services for lower and upper division and masters-level cell and molecular biology courses.
• Ability to work independently, handle multiple work priorities, organize and plan work and projects effectively, and follow written protocols.
• Knowledge of the use of materials and supplies in cell and molecular biological sciences laboratory courses.
• Knowledge of laboratory safety including state and federal guidelines and regulations for laboratory safety.
• Experience and ability to use aseptic techniques to prepare and culture both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell cultures and freeze and recover viable eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell lines.
• Experience with and ability to prepare and store and maintain DNA, RNA and protein samples, enzymes, agarose and SDS-PAGE gels, and other cell and molecular reagents.
• Experience with and ability to prepare buffers, PCR reagents, sterile culture media, and other cell and molecular reagent solutions.
• Experience with and ability to prepare laboratory materials needed for specific laboratory exercises and protocols.
• Experience providing lead work direction and coordinating student assistants and teaching associates in the preparation of materials.
• Experience troubleshooting and providing basic maintenance of laboratory equipment used in cellular and molecular biology courses, such as centrifuges, UV transilluminators, brightfield and fluorescent microscopes, cameras and digital imagers, spectrophotometers, thermal cyclers, pH meters, CO2 incubators, pipettes, micropipettes, and glassware.
• Experience using basic computer software including Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Outlook.

Qualifications

• B.S. or B.A. degree and graduate coursework in biology or related field.
• Experience working or assisting in teaching laboratories.
• Familiarity with general molecular biology and eukaryotic cellular biology experimental workflows.
• Knowledge of state and federal guidelines and regulations for storage and disposal of hazardous and biohazardous waste.