Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL TASKS:

The laboratory’s research focuses on understanding the mechanisms and treatments of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/emphysema, fibrosis, and asthma. Responsibilities will include: engaging in independent experimental design and independent execution of methods/protocols/assays described below. Functions as lab manager for Principal Investigator (PI) by providing independent oversight of general laboratory functions and personnel. Ability to make decisions and function independently from PI is essential.

Primary responsibilities are described below. Evening and weekend work will occasionally be required based upon experimental schedules and laboratory needs. Training other laboratory staff in the following is required: Colony management, handling and use of laboratory animals, infectious agents, and chemicals. Understanding how to safely use these agents is required as well as training others in their safe use and disposition. Exercise independent judgment and perform research activities with minimal guidance from the principal investigator on adapting standard laboratory procedures to meet specific research-based goals. Ability to apply good judgememnt to laboratory work, prioritizing tasks, independently managing time, and quickly integrating into an existing team is necessary.

Overall, it is anticipated that the technical associate will be able to independently coordinate several projects simultaneously, oversee laboratory protocols/experiments, as well as train new laboratory members, including students, postdoctoral fellows and other technicians on laboratory SOPs.

Experimental Research and Research Coordination (85%):

Serves as lab manager for a Principal Investigator in the Department of Environmental Medicine. Works independently with only occasional suggestions to modify, vary or adapt standard laboratory procedures to perform research-related activities to meet the specialized needs of the research projects of the Principal Investigator.

Techniques to be performed and troubleshooting: Western blotting, immunostaining, lung functioning experiments, ELISA, bone marrow and stem cell isolation, Northern blotting, ribonuclease protection assays, tissue section staining, various nuclear and cytoplasmic staining assays, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization. RNA isolation and DNA isolation, ChIP assay, EMSA (gel shift assay), RT-PCR, restriction enzyme digests, plasmid purification and extraction, quantifying results, analysis and record keeping. Performs new experiments and assays in cells and tissues. Trains undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and other technical staff to learn and perform assays, routine techniques/methods, and procedures for their experiments.

1. Supervises and trains other members of the laboratory, including junior technical staff, graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, undergraduates and work-study personnel. Monitors performance of trainees and subordinates, and addresses performance issues as they arise. (15%).

2. Interacts with nurses on clinical research projects in collecting biological fluids, obtaining spirometry measurements, and maintaining all paperwork per IRB standards. Recruits and schedules human study participants. Measures biomarkers and assumes responsibility for the treatment of samples/cells for experiments (20%).

3. Analyzes and interprets acquired data, including appropriate statistical analyses; prepares data summary reports, including tables and figures and makes recommendations for future studies (5%).

4. Assists Principal Investigator with writing grants and manuscripts for publication, including reading and interpreting primary scientific literature and preparing written summaries of this material (5%). Strict adherence to written SOPs is required; as is detailed, daily record keeping.

5. Plans and coordinates experimental timelines including scheduling other technical staff, students and post-docs to complete experimental tasks (5%).

6. Develops and optimizes new laboratory techniques including writing laboratory SOPs and training other laboratory personnel on such SOPs. Performs scientific literature searches and utilizes such literature to develop SOPs and advises the prinicipal investigator on appropriate technical approaches (5%).

7. Keeps track of Institutional Biosafety Committee approvals, Radiation Safety, Control substance logs, EH&S, and DCM training and annual updates for all laboratory personnel so that the lab is in compliance with these offices. Ensures all other laboratory personnel are up-to-date on required annual laboratory and animal usage training (5%).

8. Plans and oversees non-survival specimen collections from rodents. The technical associate will be required to independently utilize UCAR-approved and scientifically appropriate euthanasia methods followed by tissue collection (5%).

9. Designs protocols and oversees processing and analysis of collected specimens for immunohistological, biochemical, and molecular techniques including microscopy analysis, immunohistochemistry, histological analysis, Western blotting, ELISA, and other techniques. The technical associate will also be responsible for training other laboratory members (e.g., technical staff, undergraduate, and graduate students, etc.) on these techniques (15%).

10. Oversees the operation of gel doc, RT-PCR, flow cytometer, nanodrop, spectrophotometric plate reader, light and fluorescent microscope, and Western blotting equipment; addresses needs for instrument repair and maintenance (5%).

Animal Care & Compliance (10%):

Independently supervises the lab technician and others who oversee large colonies of rodent breeding, genotyping and maintenance. Provides oversight on preparation of experimental substance (e.g. drugs, environmental chemicals) administration. Oversees the ordering, breeding, and euthanasia of rodents for laboratory use; ensures detailed record keeping of such activities including UCAR and DCM forms/reports are maintained and up-to-date. All animal work will be performed in compliance with DCM and UCAR guidelines. The technical associate will communicate with DCM staff in order to ensure the health of experimental research subjects. The technical associate will also coordinate with UCAR for the annual and ad-hoc inspections to ensure compliance with all UCAR polices. Provides guidance and trains and supervises other laboratory members (e.g. students, technicians, etc.) to complete these duties.

Laboratory & Other Meetings (5%):

Participates and contributes to regularly-scheduled laboratory meetings. Provides a verbal account of progress on lab-specific goals, including experimental progress on research activities, as well as reporting of lab members’ compliance with Federal, State, and University regulations for use of laboratory animals, hazardous materials, and general laboratory health and safety as needed.

Education/Experience (minimum required) :

• Bachelor’s degree with major course work in field of assignment and 1 year of related work experience involving direct assistance to researchers ; or equivalent combination of education and experience is required. Bachelor’s in biological or life sciences and 4-5 years of experience in related techniques preferrred.

• Operational understanding and ability to troubleshoot any issues with laboratory equipment, including the ability to make solutions, use centrifuges, and accurately operate micropipettors is required, as are mathematical skills including basic algebra and the ability to use scientific notation.

• Experience with Prism and Microsoft Office software including, ENDNOTE, Powerpoint, Excel, and Word is required.

• Excellent organizational skills, ability to use good judgement, and attention to detail are required.

• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.

• Must be able to work some evenings and weekends to conduct experiments.

• Excellent interpersonal, presentation, and verbal and written communication skills are essential.

• Must maintain current CITI certification for minimal risk human clinical studies.

Desired Qualifications:

Experiential knowledge of the basic workings of a research laboratory and common equipment including general knowledge of chemistry and biology. Candidates with several years of experience on handling research animals, exposure biology, circadian biology techniques, pulmonary function assessement, experience working with human study subjects, histology, ELISA, microscopy, and Western Blots are highly desired.

License/Certification Required:

CITI certification for minimal risk human clinical studies is required.

NOTE: This document describes typical duties and responsibilities and is not intended to limit management from assigning other work as required.

How To Apply

All applicants must apply online.

EOE Minorities/Females/Protected Veterans/Disabled

Pay Range

Pay Range: $ 37,000 - $ 64,100 Annually

The referenced pay range represents the minimum and maximum compensation for this job. Individual annual salaries/hourly rates will be set within the job’s compensation range, and will be determined by considering factors including, but not limited to, market data, education, experience, qualifications, expertise of the individual, and internal equity considerations.

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Location: School of Medicine & Dentistry
Full/Part Time: Full-Time
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