Hourly Lab Tech - Dixon Lab 2

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc. is seeking a Laboratory Technician for the Department of Surgery at Virginia Commonwealth University. The successful candidate will contribute to a dynamic pre-clinical research laboratory, performing duties such as reagent preparation, animal handling, and maintaining breeding colonies.

This role requires a Bachelor's degree and general laboratory skills while fostering a respectful environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field required.
• General laboratory skills including buffer preparation.
• Ability to keep accurate scientific records.
• Proficiency in data entry with Microsoft Excel.

Responsibilities

• Make laboratory reagents and maintain stocks.
• Keep accurate records for breeding colonies.
• Perform small animal surgeries and post-operative care.
• Conduct small animal behavioral testing and tissue preparation.

Skills

General laboratory skills

Accurate record keeping

Data entry using Microsoft Excel

Precision and consistency in tasks

Respectful and professional interaction

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

Master's degree

Job description

A laboratory technician position is available in the Department of Surgery at Virginia Commonwealth University. The successful candidate will be working in a very active, enthusiastic and highly dynamic pre-clinical translational research laboratory. We are seeking a highly motivated individual.

Job duties will include the following:

• Making of general laboratory reagents (e.g. buffer preparation)
• Laboratory stock maintenance and ordering
• General laboratory maintenance (e.g. glass washing and laboratory tidying as needed)
• Maintain breeding colonies of genetically engineered mice including maintaining accurate and up to date records
• Collect mouse breeding colony tissue samples and processing for genotyping that requires animal handling skills

The applicant should be enthusiastic in expanding their role to include the following:

• Learning and then successfully performing preparation of small animals for anesthesia and surgery, performing the small animal surgeries themselves, drug treatment, monitoring the animal’s recovery after surgery, and required institutional recordkeeping
• Learning and then successfully performing daily post-operative animal care with 100% compliance with VCU IACUC protocols and record-keeping
• Learning and then successfully performing small animal behavioral testing (e.g. motor function, cognition, depression and pain)
• Learning and then successfully performing small animal transcardial perfusions, tissue preparation, cryostat sectioning, fluorescent immunohistochemistry, and stereological cell counts
• Learning and then successfully performing fresh tissue dissection, and techniques including Western blotting, QPCR, and flow cytometry
• Learning and then successfully performing in vitro culturing of either cell lines or primary cell cultures
• Learning and then successfully performing molecular biology techniques (e.g. Western blotting, QPCR and ELISA’s)

Hours are expected to be between Monday to Friday (8:30 AM - 5:00 PM), although some weekend work will likely be required, as needed (e.g., breeding colony monitoring and potential post-operative animal care).

Required Education

• Bachelor's degree in a related field

Required Experience

• General laboratory skills (e.g. buffer preparation)
• Demonstrated ability to keep accurate records (rigorous scientific record keeping required)
• Demonstrated ability to perform data entry using Microsoft Excel
• Demonstrated ability to perform tasks with scientific level precision and consistency
• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU

Preferred Education & Experience

• Master's degree