Medical University of South Carolina
UNIV - Research Specialist II - Department of Neurosciences
Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, United States, 29401
Laboratory Technician
Operates and maintains a variety of mechanical, electrical, and optical laboratory equipment. Refines and standardizes existing experimental procedures and participates in the development of new ones. Follows safety protocols to handle human tissues and fluids, primarily from subjects without communicable diseases, and conducts behavioral analysis of animal models after administering drugs and dietary treatments. Records and analyzes results of research experiments or procedures. Conducts library searches and other research of scientific literature, and regularly submits, posts, and discusses the work plan, milestones, and deliverables, progress, raw and analyzed data in Lab Archive, shared drives, and notebook/printouts. Maintain accurate records of animals and reagents to ensure the laboratory remains compliant as a BSL-2 facility and operates efficiently. Hours: Needs to be self-motivated and work regularly, at least from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM (30 hours) from Monday to Friday (Not exceeding 40 hours per week), to develop the project steadily over time. The remaining hours are flexible. Occasionally, lab emergencies and experimental time sequences may require overnight incubations and animal management on weekends and other times. Time is largely self-managed, as the supervisor may not be present during the flexible periods; however, all overtime must be preapproved and justified in writing. Job Duties: 30%: Animal behavior, dissection and tissue collection, IHC and microscopy: Mice need to be treated with the appropriate diets or agents, as instructed by the supervisor. The treatments may be over short or long periods, running several weeks. The treatments and timings must be strictly followed according to the protocol. At the end of the study, mice should be evaluated for behavioral changes, and tissues should be collected and either fixed or frozen, as described in the protocol. Appropriate mouse tissues must be stained by optimizing protocols, and microscope images must be collected and recorded. 15%: Animal management: Ensure that breeding animals are organized, genotyped, and culled to build an adequate colony size for experimentation, use, and colony maintenance. 15%: Biochemical studies: e.g., Western blotting, ELISA, assays: Mouse tissue, cell culture extracts, and in vitro samples must be assayed for appropriate biomarkers and enzyme or protein interaction activities. These studies involve several timed incubations, gel electrophoresis, and other biochemical assays as instructed, with conditions optimized in consultation with the supervisor. 15%: Molecular and Cell Biology-Cell culture, cloning: Genes and proteins are expressed in cultured human, animal, and bacterial cells for dissecting their functions. Follow the instructions as discussed to generate appropriate cell lines and DNA clones. Treat with agents that regulate expression. 15%: Data compilation, Lab notes, and regular (weekly) discussion with weekly updates of a notebook with a Table of contents: Data needs to be tabulated and recorded daily. Results must be discussed, summarized, and presented to the supervisor at least once a week. Additional discussions will be held as needed to clarify doubts and refine instructions for experimentation. The supervisor will periodically join the lab to observe, learn, troubleshoot, and suggest changes. 10% Lab maintenance and compliance: Complete all My Quest requirements according to university rules; place orders, clean and organize labware and the lab; arrange for the collection of chemical and other regulated waste by designated safety officers; manage lab chemicals and freezers. Minimum Requirements: A bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, or other natural, life or health care science and one year work experience directly related to the assigned research area. Physical Requirements: (Note: The following descriptions are applicable to this section: Continuous - 6-8 hours per shift; Frequent - 2-6 hours per shift; Infrequent - 0-2 hours per shift) Ability to perform job functions in an upright position. (Frequent) Ability to perform job functions in a seated position. (Continuous) Ability to perform job functions while walking/mobile. (Frequent) Ability to climb, using step stool. (Infrequent) Ability to work in temperature extremes (32 F to 100 F) when required due to assignments in cold rooms and/or foreign countries. (Infrequent) Ability to work in confined/cramped spaces. (Continuous) Ability to bend at the waist. (Frequent) Ability to twist at the waist. (Frequent) Ability to fully use both hands/arms. (Continuous) Ability to perform repetitive motions with hands/wrists/elbows and shoulders. (Frequent) Ability to fully use both legs. (Frequent) Ability to reach in all directions, stretch, bend, while moving items/materials from both sitting and standing positions. (Frequent) Ability to maintain good olfactory sensory function/distinction. (Continuous) Ability to lift materials up to 20 lbs., unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to lift and carry 4 liter waste material bottles a distance of 30 feet, unassisted. (Frequent) Ability to lift and carry 25-30 lbs. jugs of liquid a distance of 100 feet, unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to lift file boxes, from floor level to counter tops, unassisted. (Frequent) Ability to push/ Ability to lift 40 lbs. centrifuge rotors from floor level to height of 40 inches, then down 20 inches into centrifuge drum, unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to lift 25 lbs. boxes, from floor level to maximum height of 72 inches, unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to push/pull file boxes from one location to another at floor level. (Frequent) Ability to maneuver heavy equipment on bench tops, 50 lbs. or greater, unassisted. (Frequent) Ability to perform gross motor functions with frequent fine motor movements. (Continuous) Ability to maintain 20/40 vision, corrected, in one eye or with both eyes. (Continuous) Ability to match or discriminate between colors, normally. (Continuous) Ability to hear and recognize various alarms emitting from work area systems. (Continuous) Ability to hear and/or understand conversations. (Continuous) Ability to work in a darkroom for processing film, etc. (Continuous) Ability to be qualified physically for respirator use, initially and annually. (Continuous) Additional New Requirements: Ability to work rotating shifts as required. Ability to work overtime as required. Ability to learn and use new processes, tools and equipment as required. The Medical University of South Carolina is an Equal Opportunity Employer. MUSC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, age, sex, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected veteran status, family or parental status, or any other status protected by state laws and/or federal regulations. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment based upon applicable qualifications, merit and business need.
Operates and maintains a variety of mechanical, electrical, and optical laboratory equipment. Refines and standardizes existing experimental procedures and participates in the development of new ones. Follows safety protocols to handle human tissues and fluids, primarily from subjects without communicable diseases, and conducts behavioral analysis of animal models after administering drugs and dietary treatments. Records and analyzes results of research experiments or procedures. Conducts library searches and other research of scientific literature, and regularly submits, posts, and discusses the work plan, milestones, and deliverables, progress, raw and analyzed data in Lab Archive, shared drives, and notebook/printouts. Maintain accurate records of animals and reagents to ensure the laboratory remains compliant as a BSL-2 facility and operates efficiently. Hours: Needs to be self-motivated and work regularly, at least from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM (30 hours) from Monday to Friday (Not exceeding 40 hours per week), to develop the project steadily over time. The remaining hours are flexible. Occasionally, lab emergencies and experimental time sequences may require overnight incubations and animal management on weekends and other times. Time is largely self-managed, as the supervisor may not be present during the flexible periods; however, all overtime must be preapproved and justified in writing. Job Duties: 30%: Animal behavior, dissection and tissue collection, IHC and microscopy: Mice need to be treated with the appropriate diets or agents, as instructed by the supervisor. The treatments may be over short or long periods, running several weeks. The treatments and timings must be strictly followed according to the protocol. At the end of the study, mice should be evaluated for behavioral changes, and tissues should be collected and either fixed or frozen, as described in the protocol. Appropriate mouse tissues must be stained by optimizing protocols, and microscope images must be collected and recorded. 15%: Animal management: Ensure that breeding animals are organized, genotyped, and culled to build an adequate colony size for experimentation, use, and colony maintenance. 15%: Biochemical studies: e.g., Western blotting, ELISA, assays: Mouse tissue, cell culture extracts, and in vitro samples must be assayed for appropriate biomarkers and enzyme or protein interaction activities. These studies involve several timed incubations, gel electrophoresis, and other biochemical assays as instructed, with conditions optimized in consultation with the supervisor. 15%: Molecular and Cell Biology-Cell culture, cloning: Genes and proteins are expressed in cultured human, animal, and bacterial cells for dissecting their functions. Follow the instructions as discussed to generate appropriate cell lines and DNA clones. Treat with agents that regulate expression. 15%: Data compilation, Lab notes, and regular (weekly) discussion with weekly updates of a notebook with a Table of contents: Data needs to be tabulated and recorded daily. Results must be discussed, summarized, and presented to the supervisor at least once a week. Additional discussions will be held as needed to clarify doubts and refine instructions for experimentation. The supervisor will periodically join the lab to observe, learn, troubleshoot, and suggest changes. 10% Lab maintenance and compliance: Complete all My Quest requirements according to university rules; place orders, clean and organize labware and the lab; arrange for the collection of chemical and other regulated waste by designated safety officers; manage lab chemicals and freezers. Minimum Requirements: A bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, or other natural, life or health care science and one year work experience directly related to the assigned research area. Physical Requirements: (Note: The following descriptions are applicable to this section: Continuous - 6-8 hours per shift; Frequent - 2-6 hours per shift; Infrequent - 0-2 hours per shift) Ability to perform job functions in an upright position. (Frequent) Ability to perform job functions in a seated position. (Continuous) Ability to perform job functions while walking/mobile. (Frequent) Ability to climb, using step stool. (Infrequent) Ability to work in temperature extremes (32 F to 100 F) when required due to assignments in cold rooms and/or foreign countries. (Infrequent) Ability to work in confined/cramped spaces. (Continuous) Ability to bend at the waist. (Frequent) Ability to twist at the waist. (Frequent) Ability to fully use both hands/arms. (Continuous) Ability to perform repetitive motions with hands/wrists/elbows and shoulders. (Frequent) Ability to fully use both legs. (Frequent) Ability to reach in all directions, stretch, bend, while moving items/materials from both sitting and standing positions. (Frequent) Ability to maintain good olfactory sensory function/distinction. (Continuous) Ability to lift materials up to 20 lbs., unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to lift and carry 4 liter waste material bottles a distance of 30 feet, unassisted. (Frequent) Ability to lift and carry 25-30 lbs. jugs of liquid a distance of 100 feet, unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to lift file boxes, from floor level to counter tops, unassisted. (Frequent) Ability to push/ Ability to lift 40 lbs. centrifuge rotors from floor level to height of 40 inches, then down 20 inches into centrifuge drum, unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to lift 25 lbs. boxes, from floor level to maximum height of 72 inches, unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to push/pull file boxes from one location to another at floor level. (Frequent) Ability to maneuver heavy equipment on bench tops, 50 lbs. or greater, unassisted. (Frequent) Ability to perform gross motor functions with frequent fine motor movements. (Continuous) Ability to maintain 20/40 vision, corrected, in one eye or with both eyes. (Continuous) Ability to match or discriminate between colors, normally. (Continuous) Ability to hear and recognize various alarms emitting from work area systems. (Continuous) Ability to hear and/or understand conversations. (Continuous) Ability to work in a darkroom for processing film, etc. (Continuous) Ability to be qualified physically for respirator use, initially and annually. (Continuous) Additional New Requirements: Ability to work rotating shifts as required. Ability to work overtime as required. Ability to learn and use new processes, tools and equipment as required. The Medical University of South Carolina is an Equal Opportunity Employer. MUSC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, age, sex, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected veteran status, family or parental status, or any other status protected by state laws and/or federal regulations. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment based upon applicable qualifications, merit and business need.