Biological Scientist I

University of Florida•Gainesville, FL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Perform molecular biology assays such as DNA and RNA extractions, nucleic acid gels and blots, PCR, QPCR, and RT-PCR, protein expression, extraction, and purification, and immunological analyses such as ELISAs, Western blots, and protein dot blots. Maintain human primary cells and human cell lines and perform cell culture assays. Assist in the training and overseeing of OPS lab assistants and undergraduate, graduate, and dental research students. Training includes 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 develop and maintain a new 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 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 use micropipettes and good manual dexterity.
Occasional lifting of boxes that may weigh up to 60 lbs.

Nice To Haves

Experience in microbiology, and molecular biology.
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 volunteer and for-credit undergraduate students).
Ability to maintain adequate supplies.
Ability to recognize problems encountered in assays.
Good working knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel.

Responsibilities

Perform molecular biology assays such as DNA and RNA extractions, nucleic acid gels and blots, PCR, QPCR, and RT-PCR, protein expression, extraction, and purification, and immunological analyses such as ELISAs, Western blots, and protein dot blots.
Maintain human primary cells and human cell lines and perform cell culture assays.
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.
Train lab members on protocols, equipment, instrumentation, and standard operating procedures.
Manage the daily operations of the lab.
Perform routine maintenance of laboratory equipment.
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.
Develop and maintain a new inventory system for research samples, kits, and reagents.
Keep an inventory of all chemicals and reagents in the lab.
Ship biological samples including bacterial DNA, bacterial strains, and tissue samples.
Organize experimental data and maintain complete and accurate records of all experiments and procedures performed.
Record all data in laboratory notebooks 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.
Recognize techniques and analyses that may be useful to current projects.