Sr. Research Associate II, Histology

Location: Brisbane, CA (onsite full time)

About the role

A clinical-stage biotechnology company specializing in protein dysregulation and developing novel investigational therapies for neurodegenerative and rare peripheral amyloid diseases is seeking a Histology Technician. This role supports research projects by performing histological procedures, including tissue preparation, sectioning, standard staining, immunostaining, imaging, and image quantification. The technician will design experiments, characterize tissue and antibodies, perform image analysis, and prepare presentations.

Responsibilities

• Carry out immunohistochemical procedures:
  • Preparation of tissue including grossing and embedding
  • Sectioning tissue using various equipment including cryostat, microtome, vibratome, and sliding-frozen microtome
  • High volume automated and manual immunostaining
  • Experience with automatic slide stainers such as Leica Bond Rx and Biocare IntelliPATH FLX (a plus)
  • Experience with chromogenic and fluorescence immunodetection (single and multiplex)
  • Manual and automatic cover-slipping
  • Capturing images with fluorescence and brightfield microscopy
  • Experience with high throughput slide scanners such as Hamamatsu Nanozoomer and Zeiss Axioscan (a plus)
• Carry out histological staining such as H&E, nuclear counterstaining, and other standard histological stains
• Design and troubleshoot experiments, analyze data, and present findings in meetings with guidance from senior staff
• Use of a microscope to examine the quality of staining, perform standard microscopic tasks, view samples, and produce high-quality images
• Other laboratory tasks:
  • Shelving and inventory of biospecimens and reagents
  • Maintaining reagent stocks and ordering supplies
  • Keeping laboratory in order and ensuring equipment is well maintained
  • Work with CRO for outsourcing of tissue embedding and sectioning, when necessary
  • Collaborate and coordinate sample sharing with other research groups

Requirements

• MS in Biology or similar discipline with at least 4 years of industry experience, or BA/BS with 6 years of relevant experience demonstrating direct participation in drug discovery efforts by IHC and other tissue-based techniques
• ASCP certification (HT or HTL) is desirable
• Experience in performing, optimizing, and implementing qualitative and quantitative tissue-based methodologies, including tissue handling and processing, sectioning with microtome or cryostat, and histochemical staining
• Experience with standard and advanced microscopy and digital pathology
• Proficient at employing whole-slide automated image analysis (e.g., HALO and Definiens) and analyzing large datasets using statistical and data visualization programs (e.g., Prism, Spotfire) to quantify tissue-based efficacy markers (preferred)
• Understanding of mouse and human comparative microscopic anatomy and characterization of transgenic animals
• Familiarity with analysis and interpretation of data generated from tissue-based target expression studies and with statistical approaches
• Successful presentation of pathology projects at cross-functional team meetings is highly desirable