Lab Technician or Specialist, Wythe Lab

UVA Health•Charlottesville, VA

9d•$17 - $22•Onsite

About The Position

The Wythe Lab is seeking a Lab Technician or Specialist to investigate molecular mechanisms underlying vascular malformations and cardiovascular disease, with a focus on the brain vasculature. The position is suited to a motivated, organized team member who is willing to learn new techniques and has a basic understanding of molecular biology or biochemistry. It may suit graduating seniors seeking one or two years of research experience before medical or graduate school, with opportunities to gain extensive research experience and publish papers. The hire will generate DNA constructs for transgenic mice, manipulate mouse embryos, maintain a mouse colony, and use developmental biology, cell culture, immunohistochemical, and molecular biology techniques to study how endothelial cells differentiate into arterial and venous cells during development. The individual will interact with the supervisor daily while independently performing experiments and handling routine laboratory maintenance and organization. Applicants without mouse experience may compensate with advanced cell culture, biochemistry, or cell-based assay skills, or extensive zebrafish husbandry and embryology experience. Work effort is allocated as follows: 30% animal models and sample processing; 5% laboratory maintenance; 25% molecular biology and biochemistry; 25% tissue culture; 10% data analysis; and 5% other assigned duties. Animal-model work includes husbandry and colony maintenance, embryo dissection, sample processing for X-gal staining, in-situ hybridization and antibody staining, and imaging. Laboratory maintenance includes cleaning, ordering supplies, obtaining price quotes, inventory, coordinating equipment maintenance and repairs, and preparing solutions. Molecular biology and biochemistry work includes restriction enzyme digestion and mapping, gel electrophoresis, DNA isolation and cloning, DNA transformation and preparation, PCR, RNA isolation, Southern, Northern, and Western blotting, cDNA synthesis, quantitative RT-PCR, and in-vitro transcription. The employee documents experimental results in an electronic lab notebook and PowerPoint presentations. Tissue culture work includes mammalian cell propagation, transient and stable transfection, isolation of DNA, RNA, and protein, antibody staining, and luciferase activity quantitation. Data analysis includes basic spreadsheet calculations and plotting results in simple charts. This is a full-time, benefited, restricted position located in Charlottesville, Virginia. Continuation depends on funding and satisfactory performance. The position will not sponsor applicants already in the United States for work visas. New hires undergo background checks, and a health screen must be completed within 30 days of employment.

Requirements

Lab Technician: Associate’s degree required; an equivalent combination of experience, education, or certification may be accepted in lieu of a degree.
Lab Technician: At least 2 years of laboratory experience, which may include student experience.
Lab Specialist: Bachelor’s degree required; a combination of experience, education, or certification may be accepted in lieu of a degree.
Lab Specialist: At least 1 year of relevant laboratory experience required.
Basic understanding of molecular biology or biochemistry.
Self-motivated, organized, willing to learn new techniques, and able to work well in a team environment.
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
Ability to independently perform and execute successful experiments.
Physical ability to spend extensive periods standing and squatting and to perform keyboarding, bench work, and animal procedures requiring fine finger manipulation.

Nice To Haves

Working fundamental knowledge of basic molecular biology.
Mouse or zebrafish husbandry and colony maintenance experience.
PCR-based genotyping experience.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, and computers generally.
Excellent record-keeping skills.
Familiarity with FileMaker Pro.
Ability to learn and use new software for record keeping and database management.
Experience with cell culture models, zebrafish, or mice.
For candidates without mouse experience: advanced cell culture, biochemistry, or cell-based assay skills, or extensive zebrafish husbandry and embryology experience.

Responsibilities

Generate DNA constructs for the generation of transgenic mice.
Manipulate mouse embryos and maintain a mouse colony; work with mouse or zebrafish models and perform animal husbandry and colony maintenance.
Dissect embryos and process fixed samples for X-gal staining, in-situ hybridization, antibody staining, and imaging, including confocal imaging.
Share general laboratory maintenance, including cleaning, ordering supplies, obtaining vendor price quotes, inventorying supplies and chemicals, scheduling equipment maintenance and repairs, and preparing general solutions.
Perform molecular biology and biochemistry procedures, including restriction enzyme digestion and mapping, gel electrophoresis, DNA isolation, ligation, transformation, mini- and maxi-preparation of DNA, PCR, RNA isolation, Southern, Northern, and Western blotting, cDNA synthesis, quantitative RT-PCR, and in-vitro transcription.
Document experimental results in an electronic lab notebook and prepare PowerPoint presentations of results.
Propagate mammalian cells; perform transient and stable transfection, isolate DNA, RNA, and protein from cultured cells, conduct antibody staining, and quantify luciferase activity.
Perform basic data analysis in spreadsheets, calculate means, standard deviations, and standard errors, and plot results in simple charts.
Independently perform and execute experiments while interacting with the supervisor daily.
Perform other job-related duties as assigned.