Research Lab Technician, School of Medicine / Neurology

Duties & Responsibilities

• Bench work with animal models of muscular dystrophies.
• Including animal husbandry, delivery/injection of experimental therapeutics, and harvest of tissues for analysis.
• Animal inventory and mouse colony maintenance.
• Mice pairing, separating, weaning, and ear punching.
• Organize and implement tissue specimen collection and freezing.
• Bench work with molecular and cellular models of the muscular dystrophies, including molecular cloning, molecular measurements, and developing and maintaining cell lines, including culturing and differentiating iPSCs.
• Isolate and prepare protein, DNA and/or RNA from multiple sample types.
• Transform, isolate, grow, and harvest bacterial cultures for plasmid production.
• Perform DNA digestions, ligations, and other molecular biology methods.
• Prepare PCR analyses for a variety of applications.
• Prepare culture media.
• Prepare other standard laboratory reagents.
• Immortalized cell and induced pluripotent stem cell culture.
• Keep up-to-date modifications of all Biosafety protocols.
• Project Implementation (20%):
• Help implement and maintain data management system(s) for the various projects in the lab.
• Keep meticulous records from multiple experiments.
• Document procedures for new methods developed.
• Keep inventory records of lab samples and reagents.
• Anticipate lab reagent needs on a weekly basis.
• Assist in writing/editing manuscripts.

Qualifications

• Minimum Qualifications:
• Associate level degree in science.
• 2 or more years of experience in a laboratory.
• 1 – 2 years of experience with cellular models, processing samples, sequencing.
• 1 – 2 years of experience working independently in a laboratory setting.
• Must be proficient in the use of computers with the ability to learn new systems and software applications with ease.
• Proficiency in the use of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Adobe.
• Pro-actively ask questions and seek guidance when needed.
• Excellent customer service skills, written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work as part of a team.
• Strong problem solving and time management skills are essential, including ability to adapt to frequent changes in work assignments, prioritize and manage competing priorities and deadlines.
• Demonstrated work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications

• 1 – 2 years of experience with cell culture, PCR and protein analysis.
• 1 – 2 years of experience with laboratory training or education.
• 1 – 2 years of experience with a team science approach.

Benefits

All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

Schedule

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Pay

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Contact Information

Contact Name: Eric Hunsley
Contact Email: hunsleye@vcu.edu