Senior Research Technician

This position is for the Division of Genetic and Genomic Medicine within the Department of Pediatrics at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in Lawrenceville. PA Child Abuse History Clearance, PA State Police Criminal Record Check, FBI Criminal Record Check, and a current TB test will be required prior to the start of employment.

About the role

The Research Technician IV will support preclinical therapeutic development for PDHA1-related pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency (PDCD), a mitochondrial disorder of carbohydrate oxidation associated with significant morbidity and mortality.

Responsibilities

• Culture and maintain genotype-defined cellular models (including patient fibroblasts, pseudodiploid neuronal cell lines, induced pluripotent stem cells [iPSCs], and differentiated neuronal and glial systems).
• Conduct biochemical, molecular biology, and pharmacology experiments.
• Perform enzyme activity, metabolic flux, and mitochondrial function assays (e.g., Seahorse analyses).
• Assist with compound screening and characterization.
• Support mouse colony management and phenotyping studies.
• Maintain detailed research records.
• Analyze data and contribute to manuscript and grant preparation.
• Perform a variety of independent and complex laboratory work and experiments, including determining experimental protocols and preparing laboratory specimens and cultures.
• Provide research experiment design expertise.
• Analyze experimental data, interpret results, compile findings, and write reports.
• Maintain and oversee specimen inventory and ordering.
• Maintain lab and chemical inventory.
• Keep detailed, accurate, and timely data and log books.
• Prepare data, graphs, tables, and charts to document experimental results for publication.
• Write manuscripts and grant proposals; perform literature searches; summarize findings for reports.
• Develop expert recommendations and problem resolutions to improve research efforts.
• Serve as Safety Officer as directed and/or needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in biology, biochemistry, neuroscience, pharmacology, or a related field with at least three years of relevant research experience (or an equivalent combination of education and experience).
• A Master's degree in a related discipline is desirable.
• Prior experience with mammalian cell culture, molecular biology, metabolic assays, and/or mouse models is preferred.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills.
• Collaborative, detail-oriented, and highly motivated individual who is eager to learn and capable of working independently.
• Enthusiasm for contributing to a multidisciplinary research program spanning drug discovery, cellular neuroscience, mitochondrial biology, and translational animal studies.

Physical Effort

Light to medium; no heavy lifting.

Schedule

Position will require flexibility with shift/hours; evenings and weekends possible, depending on experimental needs such as cell culture work, mouse handling, or some time-dependent assays.