Transgenic Specialist

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About the Faculty of Arts and Sciences

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) is the historic heart of Harvard University. It is the home of Harvard’s undergraduate program (Harvard College, founded in 1636) as well as all of Harvard’s Ph.D. programs (the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, founded in 1872), Harvard Athletics, and the Division of Continuing Education. The 40 academic departments and 30+ centers of the FAS support a community unparalleled in its academic excellence across the broadest range of liberal arts and sciences disciplines. Together, the FAS seeks to foster an environment of ambition, curiosity, and shared commitment to knowledge and truth that elicits excellence from all members of our community and prepares the next generation of leaders through a transformative educational experience.

About the Role

The Biological Laboratories’ Aquatics Facilities support live animal specimens for use by Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) and Organismic and Evolutionary Biology (OEB) members for research. The Transgenic Specialist aids Harvard undergraduate, graduate, post-docs, and scholars in the use of the aquatics facilities by providing a point-person for generating transgenics of unconventional experimental animal systems to support the sciences of multiple laboratories.

Responsibilities

• Independently coordinates with researchers on their projects, generating transgenics, overseeing crosses, breeding with additional wild-caught animals to maintain populations, long-term planning, and overall population management while working collaboratively with cross-functional teams, including molecular biologists, bioinformaticians, chemists, and clinical researchers at Harvard and other institutions.
• Coordinates and facilitates design and implementation strategies for generating transgenic and cultured animals (including gene knockout, knock-in, and overexpression models).
• Conducts, develops, validates, and organizes experimental protocols for genotyping (such as CRISPR/Cas9 and other gene-editing technologies to create precise genetic modifications), phenotyping, and designing functional assays for all transgenic and cultured lines.
• Analyzes experiments involving the creation and utilization of transgenic animals to advance understanding of genetic functions, disease mechanisms, and potential therapeutic interventions in conjunction with lab heads and lab members.
• Maintains records and databases of all transgenesis and monitoring.
• Maintains transgenic and cultured animal colonies, ensuring ethical and regulatory compliance, including assisting with composing animal protocols.
• Assists with oversight of facility activities, including maintenance of equipment and inventory management.
• Trains community researchers (graduate students, postdocs, interns) in creating and maintaining non-model transgenic and cultured lines.
• Helps maintain animal facility husbandry and care, including water quality and maintenance, distribution of feeds, and assisting with the design and building of animal housing and culture systems.
• Acts as a secondary point of contact for alarms of the facility.
• Acts as team lead for coop interns, volunteers, and technicians with oversight from the Aquatics Facility Manager.
• Helps facilitate public education programs involved with public relations, news, media, and outreach events.

Requirements

• BS in Biology or related field with at least 3 years of aquatic training.

Qualifications

• A Master's or PhD level of education in Biology or related field (preferred).
• Proficiency in designing and maintaining non-experimental model aquatic and terrestrial animals.
• Strong problem-solving abilities and attention to detail.
• Effective communication and teamwork skills.
• Excellent data analysis skills, with proficiency in relevant equipment and software needed to effectively house and maintain animals.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and identify opportunities for collaborations and scientific priorities.

Additional Information

This position is a 2-year term appointment from the date of hire with renewal contingent upon funding and performance. Standard hours are 35 hours per week. Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position. Pre-employment screening includes identity, education, criminal, and reference checks. All formal offers will be made by FAS HR.

This position has been determined to require all duties and responsibilities to be performed at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location. Certain visa types may limit work location; individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off, including parental leave.
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one.
• Retirement plans with university contributions.
• Wellbeing and mental health resources.
• Support for families and caregivers.
• Professional development opportunities, including tuition assistance and reimbursement.
• Commuter benefits, discounts, and campus perks.