Biotechnician - Department of Ophthalmology

West Virginia University • West Virginia, WV

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Ophthalmology at West Virginia University is seeking a Biotechnician to assist Dr. Ezequiel Salido, an assistant professor. The research focuses on understanding the neuronal extracellular matrix (ECM) and its role in vision and ocular diseases. The lab utilizes various experimental approaches including CRISPR-Cas9 animal models, immunohistochemistry, Western blot, PCR, electroretinography, in vivo retinal imaging, electron microscopy, AAV-based gene therapy, multi-omics analyses, and biochemical techniques. The hired individual will join a team of vision researchers dedicated to uncovering the causes of blindness and developing innovative treatments for vision loss. This role offers a unique opportunity for growth and learning in vision research with a strong emphasis on work-life balance.

Requirements

• Bachelor in life sciences or equivalent.
• A minimum of six (6) months experience in a research lab.
• Relevant experience in biological research laboratory settings.
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.
• Effective and clear communication of research findings with the team is crucial.
• Engage in collaborative and independent work within the research team.
• Strong capabilities in verbal and written communication, alongside excellent time management and organizational skills.
• Self-motivation is essential for success in this role.
• Solid background in general molecular biology techniques, essential for daily laboratory tasks.
• Ability to operate general laboratory equipment (i.e., pH meter, scales, pipets, centrifuges, etc.) and the willingness and ability to learn new techniques, procedures, or protocols.
• Commitment to continuous learning and skill enhancement, actively seeking training and development opportunities.
• Efficient at gathering and analyzing information to identify and resolve problems.
• Responsive to management direction, adheres to work schedules, and manages leave responsibly, ensuring consistent productivity and team coherence.

Responsibilities

• Maintain mouse colonies, including weaning, tagging, sex separation, breeding coordination, cage tracking, and animal record updates.
• Perform genotyping workflows, including tissue sample preparation, PCR, gel electrophoresis, sequencing preparation, and analysis of results.
• Provide support for experiments to lab members.
• Dissection of ocular tissues for experimentation.
• Western Blot protein analysis.
• Immunohistochemistry on cryosectioned retina and confocal microscopy.
• Performing electroretinography analysis on anesthetized mice.
• Maintain lab organization, including ordering and stocking chemicals and maintaining inventories.
• Set up, calibrate, and maintain laboratory equipment.
• Troubleshoot equipment issues.
• Prepare reagents and assist in experiments as needed.
• May assist with specialized experiments, including: Intraocular injections for gene therapy studies, Electron microscopy / Immunoelectromicroscopy, Super-resolution microscopy (STORM), Bacteria and human cell culture and protein expression, Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in mice.

Benefits

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 15 annual leave (vacation) days per year or more based on years of service (employee leave)
• 18 sick days per year
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6%25 employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks.
• Wellness programs

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level