Research Technician II - Genetics

Washington University in St. Louis; United States; On-site; USD 23,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Washington University in St. Louis in Saint Louis, MO, is seeking a motivated scientist to join the Dougherty/Maloney Labs for a research role focused on neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders.

Responsibilities include rodent behavioral and molecular analyses, maintaining mouse lines, and data interpretation across NIH- and privately-funded projects. The position offers flexible hours with potential evening and weekend work, opportunities to advance with genomics approaches, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or combination of education and/or experience may substitute for minimum education.
• No specific certification/professional license is required for this position.
• No specific work experience is required for this position.

Responsibilities

• Assists with research studies, experiments and assays, including collection of data, preparation of solutions and setup and maintenance of equipment.
• Performs data entry and maintains data files on research.
• Prepares tissue cultures, reagents, probe tests, etc.
• Complies with established safety procedures and maintains required documentation on laboratory and specimen conditions.

Skills

Rodent handling

Behavioral testing

Data analysis

Python/statistics

qPCR

Western blotting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in biology or related field

Tools

qPCR instruments

Western blot equipment

Job description

Location

SAINT LOUIS, MO 63110

Scheduled Hours 40

Position Summary

This is an exciting research opportunity in Dougherty/Maloney Labs in the Departments of Genetics and Psychiatry. We are seeking a motivated scientist to join our team! This position includes conducting rodent behavioral and molecular analyses as well as husbandry for NIH- and privately-funded projects aimed at understanding how genetic risk for neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders alter brain development and behavior and identifying treatment strategies. The primary responsibilities of this role may include collecting behavioral data, conducting preliminary data analysis, breeding and maintaining experimental mouse lines, molecular assays for genotype determination, and transcript and protein quantification. Additional responsibilities and opportunities include statistical analysis and data interpretation and assisting the team to bring new behavioral assays online. The Dougherty and Maloney labs use genomics and experimental systems to define molecular mechanisms underlying genetic liability in psychiatric disease. This includes cutting edge molecular, genetic, behavioral, and bioinformatic techniques to study transcriptional and translational regulation and its dysregulation in psychiatric disease, and genetic variation in psychiatric diseases. We are primarily focused on autism, and the functional impact of distinct genetic liabilities of neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., PMIDs: 34614421, 37426756 37370259). This position requires flexible hours as evening and weekend work may be required as needed on a study by study basis.

Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

• Assists with research studies, experiments and assays, including collection of data, preparation of solutions and setup and maintenance of equipment.
• Performs data entry and maintains data files on research.
• Prepares tissue cultures, reagents, probe tests, etc.
• Complies with established safety procedures and maintains required documentation on laboratory and specimen conditions.
• Ensures lab conditions and equipment are properly cleaned and maintained in accordance with established procedures.
• Assists with general lab maintenance and cleaning.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Working Conditions: This position works in a laboratory environment with potential exposure to biological and chemical hazards. The individual must be physically able to wear protective equipment and to provide standard care to research animals. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.

Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree or combination of education and/or experience may substitute for minimum education. Certifications/Professional Licenses: No specific certification/professional license is required for this position. Work Experience: No specific work experience is required for this position. Skills: Not Applicable Driver's License: A driver's license is not required for this position.

Preferred Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree or higher in relevant field.
• Rodent handling experience.
• The ideal candidate will have up to one year of experience in a laboratory setting.
• Experience with techniques such as qPCR and western blotting.
• Behavioral testing experience.
• Strong skills in scientific and critical thinking.
• Computer skills: proficient with Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Basic wet lab skills such as pipetting.
• Rigorous laboratory record keeping.
• Preferred Qualifications Education: No additional education unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.
• Preferred Qualifications Certifications/Professional Licenses: No additional certification/professional licenses unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.
• Preferred Qualifications Work Experience: No additional work experience unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.
• Preferred Qualifications Skills: Communication, Detailed Reports, Laboratory Instrumentation, Laboratory Research, Software Program, Working Independently.

Salary Range

Grade R06-H Salary Range $16.92 - $26.44 / Hourly

Accommodation

If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email [e-mail] or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request. All qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.

Pre-Employment Screening

All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.

Benefits Statement

• Personal Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.
• Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.
• Take advantage of our free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.
• WashU provides eligible employees with a defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, which combines employee contributions and university contributions starting at 7%.
• Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more!
• Family We offer 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child.
• Family care resources are also available for your continued childcare needs.
• Need adult care? We’ve got you covered.
• WashU covers the cost of tuition for you and your family, including dependent undergraduate-level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years with us.

EEO Statement

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity or shared ancestry, color, national origin, citizenship (where prohibited by federal law), age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information. As a federal contractor, the university maintains affirmative action programs to implement its equal employment opportunity policy for individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, in accordance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (VEVRAA), as amended.