Temporary Principle Laboratory Technician

About the role

The Advanced Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (ARDL) is part of the University of Minnesota Laboratory Medicine and Pathology Department under the Medical School. ARDL is a fully accredited high-complexity clinical laboratory that serves primarily as a central laboratory for numerous research clinical trials and studies. Laboratory services include both general and specialized analytical testing, DNA and RNA isolation, specimen processing, sample repository, collection kit production, method validation and correlation services, and cell cryopreservation and transformation.

The principal laboratory technician will perform a variety of procedures on biological samples. Specimens will be accessioned, processed, stored, and inventoried using standard operating procedures. This position includes operating and maintaining laboratory equipment such as the Tecan Fluent, biological safety cabinet, controlled rate freezers, liquid nitrogen freezers, and centrifuges.

Responsibilities

• Use of different computer systems and specialized laboratory equipment in a fast-paced, high-throughput laboratory.
• Receiving samples in the FedEx Ship Manager, sorting and opening specimen packages, and accessioning samples in the Abbott StarLIMS laboratory information system.
• Processing responsibilities including preparing reagents, isolating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in a biological safety cabinet, counting PBMCs using a microscope, specimen aliquoting, labeling vials, and DNA and RNA isolation procedures.
• Operating and maintaining centrifuges, Tecan robotic instrument, liquid nitrogen freezers, and controlled rate freezers.
• Maintaining an accurate and detailed specimen inventory in the Abbott StarLIMS laboratory information system.
• Monitoring and ordering of supplies.
• General duties as assigned.

Requirements

All required qualifications must be documented on application materials.

• High school graduation with four years of laboratory or healthcare experience or a bachelor’s degree in a science or a combination of relevant academic and work experience to equal four years.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent verbal and written communication.
• Ability to learn quickly.
• Ability to organize and prioritize work and follow through on assignments.
• Dependable.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a science or healthcare-related field.
• Laboratory experience working with biological specimens.
• Experience with ordering tests and inventory management in a laboratory information system.

Schedule

• Appointment length: approximately 67 working days.
• Work schedule: Tuesday - Saturday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM.
• May work up to 40 hours per week.

Pay

Pay Range: $27.39 - $35.61/hour, depending on education, qualifications, and experience.

Retirement plan options are available for Civil Service, Faculty, Labor-Represented, Professional & Administrative, and Temp Casual classifications. Learn more about retirement plans.