Lab Technician-Luo Lab

Job Summary

Responsibilities

• Handle and train rats on complex cognitive tasks.
• Design, build, and maintain custom behavioral rigs for rats, including integrating sensors, actuators, and control electronics.
• Use maker tools (e.g., CAD design and 3D printing) to prototype and refine rig components.
• Run daily behavioral sessions, meticulously collecting and organizing performance data.
• Assist with and, following training, independently perform stereotaxic survival surgeries to implant microelectrode arrays and optic fibers.
• Perform diligent post-operative care and monitoring to ensure animal welfare.
• Conduct in vivo electrophysiology recording sessions from multiple brain regions in behaving animals.
• Implement optogenetic protocols to precisely activate or inhibit neural populations during cognitive tasks.
• Troubleshoot experimental hardware and software setups.
• Support computational analysis by executing established data processing pipelines on newly collected datasets.
• Perform data quality control checks to ensure integrity before advanced analysis.
• Manage and curate large-scale neurophysiological and behavioral datasets, ensuring proper organization and documentation.
• Generate standardized figures and summary reports for lab meetings using existing scripts.

General Laboratory Support

• Achieve day-to-day care and housekeeping of the laboratory.
• Maintain the rodent colony in accordance with all institutional and federal animal care guidelines.
• Manage lab inventory, order supplies, and maintain equipment.
• Prepare sterile surgical tools, solutions, and reagents.
• Keep detailed and accurate experimental records in an electronic laboratory notebook.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry, or other scientific disciplines in a related field or equivalency (one year of education can be substituted for two years of related work experience).
• Knowledge of complex laboratory techniques, equipment, terminology, materials and substances.
• Skilled in the use of laboratory equipment.
• Ability to create and analyze statistical calculations and prepare reports.
• Demonstrated human relations and effective communication skills.
• OSHA training and certification in animal care and use or the willingness to complete the certification may be required by some departments.

Preferences

• A Bachelor's degree in Neuroscience, Biology, Psychology, Bioengineering, or a closely related field.
• Two years of related work experience can be substituted for one year of education.
• OSHA training and certification in animal care and use or the willingness to complete the certification.
• Exceptional organizational skills, a high level of meticulousness, and strong problem-solving abilities.
• The ability to work independently after training as well as collaboratively within a team.
• Excellent communication skills and a strong desire to learn new techniques.
• Comfortable and willing to work with rodents.