Pathology Research Technician Histopathology Lab

Since 1986, Banner Sun Health Research Institute, part of nonprofit Banner Health, has been a leader nationally and internationally in the effort to find answers to disorders of aging including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. The institute’s Cleo Roberts Center for Clinical Research takes laboratory discoveries to clinical trials that foster hope for new treatments. Banner Health is Arizona’s leading health care provider and largest private employer.

About the role

This position is responsible for performing routine to complex autopsy and laboratory diagnostic and research procedures including histological slide preparation; cutting and staining paraffin-embedded and frozen sections. Leads a rapid-response autopsy team.

Responsibilities

• Performs various laboratory tests in accordance with standard practice, including histological procedures such as tissue fixation, tissue sectioning on paraffin, cryostat and sliding freezing microtomes, and staining sections with classical stains (e.g., hematoxylin and eosin), silver stains (e.g., Gallyas and Campbell-Switzer), and immunohistochemical methods.
• Labeling and filing of slides.
• Performs biochemical methods including preparation of fresh and frozen single-cell suspensions, processing of cerebrospinal fluid and blood, western blotting, ELISA, RNA and DNA isolation, and Bioanalyzer analysis.
• Documents laboratory test results verbally, in personal laboratory notebook, in dedicated shared laboratory binders, and in workflow files on the network computer (Excel spreadsheet).
• Manages labware supplies and preparation, including buffers, fixatives, and stain components; cleans labware manually and via dishwasher; orders and maintains lab and autopsy supplies.
• Performs duties for on-call brain autopsy program, including:
  • Carrying a cell phone and/or pager when on duty.
  • Responding to calls 24/7 within 10 minutes and reporting to the morgue within one and a half hours of being called.
  • Receiving the body from the transport company according to standard protocols.
  • Performing the role of brain team leader or body team leader, dissecting and processing the brain or body according to standard protocols, and supervising an assistant.
  • Completing all documentation related to the autopsy.
• Updates information in the shared database.
• Performs related work, which may include assisting with animal surgery, analysis of microscopic slides, data analysis, review and summary of scientific literature, and drafting of scientific publications (solo or with a team).
• Occasionally interacts with outside vendors, couriers, and professionals who bring or take specimens/human remains to/from the laboratory/morgue.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree in biology or biosciences.
• Ability to maintain absolute confidentiality regarding human subject identity.
• Strong communication skills to perform duties consistent with departmental scope of services and standards.

Preferred Qualifications

• Coursework in gross human and/or vertebrate anatomy.
• Relevant experience in a hospital pathology setting and/or biomedical research.

Schedule

• Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM.
• On-call rotation: 1 month on, followed by 3 months off. (Recruiter will further explain on-call requirements.)