Biological Scientist I

University of Florida•Gainesville, FL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Perform microbiology and molecular biology assays such as bacterial cultures, stocking, DNA and RNA extractions and nucleic acid gels and blots; PCR, QPCR, and RT-PCR; biochemical assays; protein expression, extraction, and purification; and immunological analyses such as ELISAs, Western blots, and protein dot blots. Assist in the training and overseeing of OPS lab assistants and undergraduate, graduate, and dental research students. Training consists of educating trainees in EH&S lab safety rules and regulations, ensuring all personnel have completed and are up to date on all mandatory training such as blood borne pathogens, handling biomedical and hazardous/chemical waste, IACUC, HIPAA, and others as may be required by the research project and/or routine duties and procedures performed by each individual. Additionally, the laboratory technician is responsible for assisting with training each lab member on protocols, equipment, instrumentation, and standard operating procedures necessary to complete his or her research assignment and/or routine lab duties. Assist with managing the daily operations of the lab. Ensure that laboratory duties such as performing routine maintenance of laboratory equipment (including but not limited to the anaerobic chamber, centrifuges, and water baths); preparation of buffers, stock solutions and bacterial and cell culture media; ordering supplies and stocking shelves, cleaning and organizing, and ensuring that various as-needed tasks are performed either by the employee or satisfactorily performed by others. The biological scientist will also be responsible for cultivating/maintaining stocks of bacterial strains and keeping an accurate inventory of frozen bacterial and human cell culture stocks. He or she will also maintain a inventory system for keeping track of research samples, kits, and reagents in the freezers and refrigerators; and will keep an inventory of all chemicals and reagents in the lab. The biological scientist will be trained on the shipping of biological samples and will carry the main responsibility for shipping bacterial DNA, bacterial strains, tissue samples, etc. Organize experimental protocols and data and maintain complete and accurate records of all experiments and procedures performed. Record all data in regulation laboratory notebook(s) on a daily basis or during and immediately after collection. Maintain a thorough working knowledge of the literature directly pertaining to the goals of the lab. This will involve independent reading of literature and recognizing techniques and analyses that may be useful to current projects.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in biology or a closely related life science field.
Ability to organize work assignments.
Ability to manage the daily activities of an active laboratory.
Ability to assist with the direction of co-workers (primarily volunteers and undergraduate students).
Ability to maintain adequate supplies.
Ability to recognize problems encountered in assays.
Good working knowledge of Microsoft office.
Good working knowledge of statistical tools such as Prism.
Good working knowledge of citation tools such as EndNote.
Good working knowledge of graphing tools such as BioRender.
Ability to use micropipettes.
Good manual dexterity.

Nice To Haves

Experience in microbiology, genetics, and molecular biology.

Responsibilities

Perform microbiology and molecular biology assays such as bacterial cultures, stocking, DNA and RNA extractions and nucleic acid gels and blots; PCR, QPCR, and RT-PCR; biochemical assays; protein expression, extraction, and purification; and immunological analyses such as ELISAs, Western blots, and protein dot blots.
Assist in the training and overseeing of OPS lab assistants and undergraduate, graduate, and dental research students.
Educate trainees in EH&S lab safety rules and regulations, ensuring all personnel have completed and are up to date on all mandatory training such as blood borne pathogens, handling biomedical and hazardous/chemical waste, IACUC, HIPAA, and others as may be required by the research project and/or routine duties and procedures performed by each individual.
Assist with training each lab member on protocols, equipment, instrumentation, and standard operating procedures necessary to complete his or her research assignment and/or routine lab duties.
Assist with managing the daily operations of the lab.
Perform routine maintenance of laboratory equipment (including but not limited to the anaerobic chamber, centrifuges, and water baths).
Prepare buffers, stock solutions and bacterial and cell culture media.
Order supplies and stock shelves, clean and organize.
Cultivate/maintain stocks of bacterial strains and keep an accurate inventory of frozen bacterial and human cell culture stocks.
Maintain an inventory system for keeping track of research samples, kits, and reagents in the freezers and refrigerators.
Keep an inventory of all chemicals and reagents in the lab.
Ship bacterial DNA, bacterial strains, tissue samples, etc.
Organize experimental protocols and data.
Maintain complete and accurate records of all experiments and procedures performed.
Record all data in regulation laboratory notebook(s) on a daily basis or during and immediately after collection.
Maintain a thorough working knowledge of the literature directly pertaining to the goals of the lab, involving independent reading of literature and recognizing techniques and analyses that may be useful to current projects.