Senior Research Technician, Metabolism and Basic Biology of Aging

About the role

The mission of the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University (HNRCA) is to promote healthy aging through nutrition science to empower people seeking to enjoy long, active, and independent lives. HNRCA investigators conduct the world's most advanced studies on nutrition and aging, focusing on determining the nutrient and physical activity requirements necessary to promote well‑being for older adults and examining how nutrition and physical activity play a major role in preventing the major chronic degenerative conditions and diseases associated with aging.

Responsibilities

• In collaboration with the Principal Investigator and other members of the laboratory, develops and modifies techniques and protocols and provides input into research design.
• Performs a wide range of specialized techniques and experiments.
• Analyzes data, interprets results, and assists in design modification and writing materials for publication and presentation.
• Maintains laboratory equipment and supplies; orders/keeps inventory; helps manage laboratory operations.
• Conducts experiments following appropriate protocols and procedures to achieve results.
• Performs assays and genetic crosses with Drosophila, and techniques such as microdissection, fluorescence microscopy, PCR, electrophoresis, and others.
• Records results and maintains accurate records of experiments; updates and maintains databases.
• Analyzes results and determines whether modification or repeat of procedures is necessary.
• Manages Drosophila media and diet preparation and biological sample collection.
• Performs some data interpretation and assists with statistical analysis and summaries for presentation of results.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in science (general biology, cellular and molecular biology, animal science, nutrition, biochemistry, etc.)
• 1 year of related laboratory experience
• Preferred: Advanced knowledge and experience with laboratory techniques and procedures
• Preferred: Familiarity with Drosophila culture, media quality, and fly handling techniques
• Preferred: Knowledge of statistics
• Preferred: Command line coding (R, Python, etc.)

Pay

Pay Range: Minimum $25.20, Midpoint $30.10, Maximum $34.90. Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity; generally, new hires can expect pay between the minimum and midpoint of the range.