Laboratory and Research Specialist II

Virginia Tech•Blacksburg, VA

14h•Onsite

About The Position

The Laboratory and Research Specialist will conduct growth experiments with pure cultures of strictly anaerobic, hyperthermophilic and mesophilic methanogenic archaea, employing serum tubes and serum bottles, and analyze these cultures employing UV-visible spectroscopy, light microscopy and protein assays. The Laboratory and Research Specialist will formulate and prepare appropriate growth media and cultivate strictly anaerobic, hyperthermophilic and mesophilic methanogenic archaea in these media (5-100 mL) and follow their growth by cell count as determined by use of a phase contrast microscope fitted with a Petroff-Hauser counter and optical density. The Specialist will perform heterologous protein expression experiments with recombinant hyperthermophilic and mesophilic methanogenic archaea and E. coli, estimate the levels of heterologous proteins expressed via SDS-PAGE and western blotting and purify these proteins to apparent homogeneity under aerobic and anaerobic conditions via affinity chromatography.

Requirements

Experiences in using an anaerobic chamber are a must.
Experiences working with strictly anaerobic methanogenic archaea are a must.
Estimation of protein is essential.
Use of a spectrophotometer is essential.
B.S. Biochemistry or Microbiology or equivalent relevant experience and training.
Research experience in the cultivation of strictly anaerobic methanogenic archaea in liquid media with gaseous substrates.
Use of an anaerobic chamber.
Purification of heterologously expressed proteins to apparent homogeneity.
Analysis of proteins via SDS-PAGE, western blotting and protein assay.
Demonstrated experience with data processing using Microsoft Excel.
Demonstrated experience writing reports.

Nice To Haves

Experience in performing spectrophotometric assays for enzymatic activity.

Responsibilities

Conduct growth experiments with pure cultures of strictly anaerobic, hyperthermophilic and mesophilic methanogenic archaea.
Analyze cultures employing UV-visible spectroscopy, light microscopy and protein assays.
Formulate and prepare appropriate growth media.
Cultivate strictly anaerobic, hyperthermophilic and mesophilic methanogenic archaea in media (5-100 mL).
Follow growth by cell count using a phase contrast microscope fitted with a Petroff-Hauser counter and optical density.
Perform heterologous protein expression experiments with recombinant hyperthermophilic and mesophilic methanogenic archaea and E. coli.
Estimate levels of heterologous proteins expressed via SDS-PAGE and western blotting.
Purify proteins to apparent homogeneity under aerobic and anaerobic conditions via affinity chromatography.