Lai Lab Research Technician

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Chapel Hill (NC); On-site; USD 34,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill seeks a full-time Lai Lab Research Technician to support in vivo studies in cancer and infectious disease models. The role focuses on animal handling, dosing across multiple routes, and comprehensive data collection under IACUC approvals.

The technician will assist with tissue collection, necropsy, and sample processing while maintaining rigorous records and ensuring animal welfare throughout the study.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated hands-on competency in animal handling and restraint.
• Experience with in vivo studies and animal dosing protocols.
• Familiarity with humane endpoints and clinical scoring.
• Knowledge of aseptic technique and basic lab safety.

Responsibilities

• Execute in vivo studies following IACUC protocols and approved procedures.
• Perform dosing via multiple routes (PO, IV, IP, SC, IM, IN) and monitor adverse reactions.
• Conduct longitudinal animal monitoring, sample collection, and tissue processing for analysis.
• Maintain accurate records of animal care, procedures, and study outcomes.

Skills

Animal handling and restraint

In vivo studies

Dosing administration

Clinical scoring

Laboratory safety

Job description

Department

SOP-DPMP - 452400

Career Area

Research Professionals

Posting Open Date

08/14/2026

Application Deadline

08/19/2026

Position Type

Temporary Staff (SHRA)

Position Title

Lai Lab Research Technician

Position Number

20078103

Vacancy ID

S027963

Full-time/Part-time

Full-Time Temporary

Hours per week

40

Position Location

North Carolina, US

Hiring Range

$25.00 - $34.96 per hour

Estimated Duration of Appointment

6 months or longer

Be a Tar Heel!

A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation’s top public universities. Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn. One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community. University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks that include numerous retail and restaurant discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates for performing arts events.

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit

The UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy (www.pharmacy.unc.edu) is one of six health science schools (Pharmacy, Nursing, Dentistry, Social Work, Public Health, Medicine) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is one of the oldest health science academic programs at Chapel Hill. The School teaches approximately 600 PharmD students and 145 graduate students. The School has built a reputation for its continued pursuit of excellence, rigorous education and training programs, cutting-edge multidisciplinary research, progressive pharmacy practices, efficient business operations, and its outstanding faculty, staff, and students. The School was named the number one School of Pharmacy in the U.S. by the U.S. News and World Report. The School has experienced unprecedented growth and success and continues to strategically position itself for sustained impact, as articulated in the School’s Strategic Plan (https://pharmacy.unc.edu/about/oe/strategic-plan/).

Our Vision is to be the global leader in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences. Our Mission is to prepare leaders and innovators to solve the world’s most pressing health care challenges. We are Advancing Medicine for Life through innovation and collaboration in pharmacy practice, education, research, and public service.

Position Summary

The Lai lab at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill seeks a full-time Research Technician to support various ongoing projects in the lab spanning antibody engineering, viral vector engineering, immune cell engineering and/or gut microbiome engineering. Disease applications will predominantly encompass different cancers (lymphoma, various solid tumors including ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer and glioblastoma), different infectious disease (BSL-2 only, such as RSV, hMPV, influenza), and different inflammatory conditions (e.g. IBD). The Research Technician (Animal Studies) will predominantly focus on supporting various animal studies and may be requested to lead specific in vivo studies depending on performance. The work will involve working collaboratively with multiple lab members within the lab and lab collaborators.

Key Responsibilities

• 1. Experimental Execution & Data Collection
  • Study Protocol Adherence: Execute complex in vivo studies according to approved Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) protocols, ensuring all procedures are performed exactly as specified.
  • Dosing & Administration: Perform precise administration of experimental compounds or vehicles using various routes (e.g., PO, IV, IP, SC, IM, IN) while monitoring for localized adverse reactions.
  • Physiological Monitoring: Conduct longitudinal assessments, including serial blood collection, body weight tracking, clinical scoring, and behavioral observations.
  • Sample Processing: Execute necropsy and tissue collection procedures with technical proficiency, ensuring proper labeling, preservation (e.g., snap-freezing in liquid nitrogen, formalin fixation), and documentation for downstream analysis.
• 2. Animal Welfare & Regulatory Compliance
  • Clinical Assessment: Perform daily health checks to monitor for signs of distress, morbidity, or pain, ensuring immediate reporting and intervention according to the study’s humane endpoints.
  • Husbandry Standards: Maintain rigorous environmental controls (e.g., temperature, humidity, lighting, and cage sanitation) in accordance with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.
  • Maintain mouse colonies as needed.
  • Order animals.
  • Record Keeping: Maintain meticulous, real-time records of all animal activities, including census logs, breeding records, treatment administration, and adverse event reports to ensure audit readiness.
• 3. Technical & Laboratory Operations
  • Instrumentation: As needed, utilize instruments available at core facilities (e.g. IVIS) to perform live animal imaging. In addition, help prepare samples for in vitro assessments such as flow cytometry.
  • Inventory Oversight: Manage stocks of specialized supplies, including anesthetics, surgical consumables, and study-specific reagents, ensuring quality control and appropriate expiration tracking.
  • Sterile Technique: Maintain high standards of aseptic technique for all surgical procedures and when handling sensitive animal models to prevent cross-contamination or infection.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Demonstrated possession of the competencies necessary to perform the work.

Management Preferences

• Demonstrated hands‑on experience conducting rodent in vivo studies, including animal handling and restraint, establishment of orthotopic tumor models, dosing administration via multiple routes, blood collection, tissue harvesting, or clinical monitoring.
• Experience establishing and managing animal models, particularly mouse and hamster models, for various cancers or respiratory viral infections.
• Skilled in performing complex animal procedures, including necropsy and specimen collection, pharmacokinetic sample collection, and clinical scoring, while maintaining compliance with institutional, regulatory, or animal care protocols.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced research environment.

Campus Security Authority Responsibilities

Not Applicable.