Lab Specialist

The University of Utah • Salt Lake, UT

30d

About The Position

The laboratory specialist will assist in the function of a neuroscience research laboratory staffed by postdoctoral associates, graduate students and undergraduates. General duties include laboratory maintenance and support and assisting with data collection. Duties particular to this lab environment include animal colony management, tissue processing for histology, and preparation of olfactory stimuli from a large library of organic compounds. The lab specialist will be expected to oversee progress on at least one major project, including conducting behavioral experiments to test sensory perception in mice, compiling and presenting results, and training incoming students or other personnel. Experience with behavioral training, animal colony management, histology, or fluorescence microscopy, are important qualifications. There is ample room to develop additional specialized skills related to experimental neuroscience. This job description is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Chemistry or other scientific discipline or equivalency (one year of education can be substituted for two years of related work experience); two years full-time laboratory experience; and demonstrated human relations and effective communication skills required.
• Working knowledge of advanced scientific techniques and procedures as well as the ability to make statistical calculations, analyze results, prepare reports and perform specialized tests also required.
• Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with behavioral training
• animal colony management
• histology
• fluorescence microscopy

Responsibilities

• Independently prioritize and perform basic lab maintenance tasks.
• Assist in maintaining mouse colony, including overseeing breeding and collecting samples for genotyping.
• Assist with histology and imaging of fluorescent histological samples.
• Oversee at least one primary research project, including experimental design, data collection, analysis and presentation.
• Train incoming students or other personnel.
• Perform stereotaxic injections and other surgical procedures in rodents.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees