Pathology Research Technician

Banner Health

1d

About The Position

This position performs routine to complex autopsy and laboratory diagnostic and research procedures, including histological slide preparation and cutting and staining paraffin-embedded and frozen sections. The technician supports pathologists and researchers in the study and diagnosis of diseases and leads a rapid-response autopsy team. Work may also include assisting with animal surgery, analyzing microscopic slides and data, reviewing scientific literature, and drafting scientific publications. The role primarily serves internal customers and may occasionally involve contact with outside vendors, couriers, and professionals handling specimens or human remains.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree in biology or biosciences.
• Ability to communicate sufficiently to perform duties consistent with departmental scope of services and standards.
• Maintain absolute confidentiality regarding human subject identity.

Nice To Haves

• Coursework in gross human and/or vertebrate anatomy.
• Relevant experience in a hospital pathology setting and/or biomedical research.
• Additional related education and/or experience.

Responsibilities

• Perform laboratory tests and histological procedures, including tissue fixation, sectioning with paraffin, cryostat, and sliding freezing microtomes, and staining with hematoxylin and eosin, silver stains, and immunohistochemical methods.
• Label and file slides.
• Perform biochemical procedures as part of standard practice, including preparing fresh and frozen single-cell suspensions, processing cerebrospinal fluid and blood, western blotting, ELISA, RNA and DNA isolation, and Bioanalyzer analysis.
• Document laboratory test results verbally, in laboratory notebooks and shared binders, and in network workflow files and Excel spreadsheets.
• Prepare buffers, fixatives, and stain components; clean labware manually and using a dishwasher; order and maintain laboratory and autopsy supplies.
• Participate in the on-call brain autopsy program, carrying a phone or pager while on duty, responding to calls within 10 minutes, and reporting to the morgue within one and a half hours.
• Receive bodies from transport companies according to standard protocols; serve as brain team leader or body team leader; dissect and process brain or body specimens; supervise an assistant; complete autopsy documentation; and update the shared database.
• Assist with animal surgery, microscopic slide analysis, data analysis, scientific literature review and summary, and drafting scientific publications.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding human subject identity and follow applicable safety protocols and standards.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time