Histology Technician II

Brigham and Women's Hospital•Boston, MA

62d•Onsite

About The Position

Mass General Brigham relies on a wide range of professionals, including doctors, nurses, business people, tech experts, researchers, and systems analysts to advance our mission. As a not-for-profit, we support patient care, research, teaching, and community service, striving to provide exceptional care. We believe that high-performing teams drive groundbreaking medical discoveries and invite all applicants to join us and experience what it means to be part of Mass General Brigham. Full-Time Position | Monday - Friday, 11 AM to 7:30 PM We are offering a generous $10,000 sign-on bonus to welcome you to our team! Recognizing and valuing exceptional talent, we are eager to discuss the exciting details of this bonus during our interview process. This is a rare opportunity to join a highly specialized team of histology specialists at Massachusetts General Hospital, with the chance to learn new techniques while serving the patients of your community. Job Summary The Histology Specialist II reports to the Laboratory Supervisor. Under the supervision of the Laboratory Supervisor or Senior Histology Specialist, this role performs routine laboratory functions to produce histologic preparations for examination by residents and staff pathologists.

Requirements

Ability to accurately and efficiently embed a wide variety of tissues.
Meet national cutting standards of 50 blocks per hour embedding and 30 slides per hour cutting.
Ability to cut artifact-free four-micrometer sections.
Perform high-quality manual H&E stains.
Perform special stains (e.g., AFB, Alcian blue, Brown-Hopps, Congo red, Elastic, Iron, LHE, Mucicarmine, PAS with/without diastase, GMS, Thiazine, Trichrome).
Ability to follow established technical, safety, and clerical procedures.
Manual dexterity and motor coordination with an attention to detail and precision in performing technical tasks.
Fundamental knowledge of basic histotechniques, including fixation, decalcification, processing, embedding, microtomy, routine and special stains, and frozen sections.
Sound understanding of laboratory instrumentation (e.g., pH meter, balances, hydrometers, microtomes, cryostats, coverslippers, tissue processors).
Ability to prepare percent, molar, and normal solutions and stains.
Minimum of a high school degree (required). Associates degree preferred.
2 years of histology experience in a research setting, or Histology Specialist A (required).

Nice To Haves

Graduate of an NCCLS-approved school of Histotechnology (preferred).

Responsibilities

Fix tissues in appropriate fixatives, dehydrate with graded alcohols, clear with xylene, and impregnate with paraffin wax using an automated tissue processor.
Embed specimens ensuring proper orientation.
Produce 4-micron sections using a microtome and appropriate knives; float sections on a water bath; collect sections on a glass slide; dry in a slide dryer for the specified time.
Stain slides with routine and special stains according to approved procedures to enhance tissue elements required for diagnosis.
Coverslip and label stained slides.
Examine slides with a microscope to ensure satisfactory results.
Ensure all blocks and slides are clerically correct.
Assemble and collate slides, distributing them to residents and staff pathologists.
Determine when prescribed techniques and apparatus should be modified to meet required quality standards.
Prepare specimens for rapid frozen section diagnosis using liquid nitrogen and a cryostat microtome.
Cut and stain frozen sections using various stains, including H&E, toluidine blue, Oil Red O, and others.
Share responsibility for preparation of solutions and reagents in accordance with approved procedures.
Maintain quality control records and accurate records of blocks and slides produced.
File tissue blocks, ensuring proper labeling.
Learn to use the LIS system to perform daily lab operations.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Be responsible for off-hours pager coverage on a rotating basis.