OPS Laboratory Technician

University of Florida • Gainesville, FL

23h

About The Position

This position is renewable on a yearly basis and subjected to performance evaluation. The role involves overall management of the laboratory mouse colony, including maintenance and organization of lab mouse strains, oversight of individual lab members' mouse colonies, genotyping, breeding, preparation of animal protocols, and weekly reporting to the PI on the status of the mouse colony. The position also requires managing laboratory research supplies, ordering as needed to maintain adequate resources for research experiments, organizing laboratories, and overseeing inventory and storage of supplies. Additionally, the role includes supervising and maintaining critical laboratory stocks such as the antibody and plasmid databases, overseeing the use and maintenance of specialized laboratory equipment, and researching new equipment for purchase to improve efficiency. The technician will maintain IACUC protocols, detailed laboratory records, and ensure compliance with all University, state, and federal regulations regarding biological materials and select agents. This role provides direction and support to postdoctoral associates with molecular biology and immunology experiments, participates in laboratory meetings, and reads current literature. Administrative tasks for the Center for Inflammation and Mucosal Immunology are also part of the responsibilities, including webpage maintenance, organizing meetings and symposia, facilitating communication, managing indirect cost fund drives, and overseeing center budget, financial, and equipment management.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in biology or a closely related life science field.

Nice To Haves

• Minimum 1 years’ experience in a life sciences laboratory
• Generally experienced in molecular biology (PCR, DNA and RNA isolation, cloning), mammalian cell culture, and handling mice (breeding, weaning and maintaining lines, tail DNA prep)
• Excellent analytical, organizational, communication, and computer skills
• Ability to work independently and as a team member
• Ability to use experience to perform a variety of new techniques
• Ability to learn complex tasks with general instruction
• Actively seeks opportunities to increase skills and expertise

Responsibilities

• Provide overall management of the laboratory mouse colony, including maintenance and organization of lab mouse strains; oversight of each individual lab member’s mouse colony; genotyping mice; breeding mice; preparation of animal protocols; returning reports to the PI, weekly, regarding the status of the entire lab mouse colony.
• Manage laboratory research supplies, routinely ordering for the lab as needed to maintain adequate levels of resources for the completion of research experiments as necessitated by the scope of work of the extramurally-funded projects in progress. Organize the laboratories, and overseeing the inventory and storage of supplies.
• Supervise and maintain critical laboratory stocks including the antibody database, and plasmid database, and oversee the use and maintenance of specialized laboratory equipment. Research new laboratory equipment for purchase as needed, to improve the overall efficiency of the laboratory personnel in performing their assigned tasks; supervise the delivery, installation and maintenance of scientific equipment.
• Maintains IACUC protocols for laboratory research projects, as well as detailed, accurate laboratory records of research; maintains protocols and standard operating procedures and ensures that the laboratories and the research protocols are in compliance with all University, state and federal regulations. Maintains current knowledge and training to ensure compliance with regulations and procedures for the safe handling of biological materials and select agents.
• Provide necessary direction, knowledge and support to assist postdoctoral associates with experiments in molecular biology and immunology.
• Participate in laboratory meetings, providing information and feedback to PI and lab members; read current literature applicable to the research area and current ongoing extramurally-funded projects.
• Perform administrative tasks of the Center for Inflammation and Mucosal Immunology, including the center webpage maintenance; research in progress meeting, seminar, and annual mini-symposium organization and administrative support; communications between the director and other center members; annual indirect cost fund drive; center budget and financial management; center equipment management.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Mid Level