Temp/Casual Lab Assistant

The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota; Austin (MN); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The Hormel Institute in Austin, MN, seeks a Laboratory Technician to support the Aslanidi Lab's gene therapy and vaccine research. You will perform essential lab maintenance, prepare materials, manage inventory, and help ensure safety and compliance across facilities.

The role offers flexible work options with on-site, partial remote, or fully remote arrangements where feasible, based in Minnesota and involving occasional on-site activities.

Responsibilities

• Clean, sanitize, and maintain laboratory bench space and equipment including glassware, aspiration bottles, water baths, and CO2 incubators.
• Manage biohazard waste through proper autoclaving procedures.
• Maintain and replace CO2 tanks and ensure equipment is functioning properly.
• Maintain and refill 70% ethanol spray bottles, ethanol burners.
• Ensure laboratory spaces remain organized and compliant with safety and operational standards.
• Prepare buffers, media, and standard laboratory solutions following established protocols.
• Assist with preparation of bacterial agar plates, bacterial grow medium and other routine materials needed for experiments.
• Maintain consistency and accuracy in preparation processes.
• Monitor inventory levels of lab supplies and materials.
• Place and track supply orders, ensuring timely replenishment.
• Verify receipt and organize storage of incoming materials.
• Maintain inventory of plasmid DNA and viral stocks.
• Follow all applicable laboratory safety procedures and guidelines.
• Support compliance efforts by maintaining clean and properly functioning workspaces.
• Participate in required safety trainings and adhere to institutional protocols.

Job description

About The Job

The Aslanidi Lab research is focused on bioengineering and the application of Adeno-Associated virus (AAV) vectors for the purpose of gene therapy and vaccine development. The research addresses several important drawbacks in AAV-based gene therapy such as vector efficiency, pre-existing and therapy-activated immunogenicity, scaled-up vector production, and assessment of efficacy in large pre-clinical animal models. The goal of our research is to ensure advancement of gene therapy treatment for patients with genetic diseases and cancers. This position will provide laboratory technical research and support laboratory operations. The employer retains the right to change or assign other duties to this position as needed.

About The Job

The Aslanidi Lab research is focused on bioengineering and the application of Adeno-Associated virus (AAV) vectors for the purpose of gene therapy and vaccine development. The research addresses several important drawbacks in AAV-based gene therapy such as vector efficiency, pre-existing and therapy-activated immunogenicity, scaled-up vector production, and assessment of efficacy in large pre-clinical animal models. The goal of our research is to ensure advancement of gene therapy treatment for patients with genetic diseases and cancers. This position will provide laboratory technical research and support laboratory operations. The employer retains the right to change or assign other duties to this position as needed.

Responsibilities

Laboratory Maintenance & Equipment Support – 50%

• Clean, sanitize, and maintain laboratory bench space and equipment including glassware, aspiration bottles, water baths, and CO₂ incubators.
• Manage biohazard waste through proper autoclaving procedures.
• Maintain and replace CO₂ tanks and ensure equipment is functioning properly.
• Maintain and refill 70% ethanol spray battles, ethanol burners.
• Ensure laboratory spaces remain organized and compliant with safety and operational standards.

Preparation of Materials & Solutions – 20%

• Prepare buffers, media, and standard laboratory solutions following established protocols.
• Assist with preparation of bacterial agar plates, bacterial grow medium and other routine materials needed for experiments.
• Maintain consistency and accuracy in preparation processes.

Inventory & Supply Management – 20%

• Monitor inventory levels of lab supplies and materials.
• Place and track supply orders, ensuring timely replenishment.
• Verify receipt and organize storage of incoming materials.
• Maintain inventory of plasmid DNA and viral stocks.

Safety & Compliance Support – 10%

• Follow all applicable laboratory safety procedures and guidelines.
• Support compliance efforts by maintaining clean and properly functioning workspaces.
• Participate in required safety trainings and adhere to institutional protocols.

Flexible Work Profile

The Research and Innovation Office (RIO) and The Hormel Institute endorses a “work with flexibility” approach that offers a welcoming and flexible work environment where everyone is inspired to do their best. Work location options include working fully remote, partially remote, or entirely in the office and are based on the work of the position. Some on-site work may be necessary for certain positions, even those designated as fully remote. Because we are a land-grant institution that serves the state, the University will continue to- in most cases- expect employees to live in Minnesota.

This position has been designated as eligible for Flexible Work Profile One.

Flexible Work Profile One, Office/Lab-Based - is expected to work primarily on-site in the office/lab. Only occasionally and inconsistently working remotely. Your office will be located at The Hormel Institute in Austin, Minnesota. The Hormel Institute management retains the right to modify flexible work arrangement agreements on a temporary or permanent basis for any reason at any time.