Research Lab Technician
About The Position
The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at USC Keck School of Medicine is seeking a full-time Research Laboratory Technician. This role supports research focused on peptidic effectors of mammalian innate immunity for drug development. The laboratory utilizes various scientific practices including molecular biology, protein biochemistry, enzyme kinetics, immune signaling pathways, microbiology, and animal models for inflammatory diseases. The technician will perform in vitro (cell culture) and in vivo (rodent) experiments to evaluate the effects of peptidic agents, test synthetic peptides for immunomodulatory properties, and assist in animal experiments. Responsibilities include data collection, graphing, rodent inoculation, drug/placebo administration, organ harvesting, and bacterial/fungal load enumeration. Maintaining a rodent colony, measuring weights, and recording observations may also be part of the role. The candidate must complete animal tutorial training and general laboratory safety certification.
Requirements
- Minimum Education: High school or equivalent, Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education
- Minimum Experience: 6 - 12 months, Combined education/experience as substitute for minimum experience
- Minimum Field of Expertise: Ability to follow detailed instructions, oral and written
Nice To Haves
- Previous general scientific laboratory research practices
- Rodent animal handling
Responsibilities
- Performing in vitro (cell culture) and in vivo (rodent) experiments to evaluate physiologic and molecular effects and mechanisms of peptidic agents.
- Testing a library of synthetic peptides for their immunomodulatory properties in infection and inflammatory disease models.
- Assisting in animal experiments including peptide treatments while collecting data for clinical/in-life presentation of disease (i.e., survivability, weight gain/loss, disease severity, mortality, and/or morbidity), post-mortem indicators of disease (i.e., bacterial or fungal burden).
- Obtaining, maintaining, and graphing of data.
- Assisting in the inoculation of rodents with pathogens by intraperitoneal or intravenous injections.
- Assisting in drug treatment or placebos to infected animals.
- Harvesting organs.
- Assisting in collecting blood and enumerating bacterial/fungal load as a function of peptide treatment.
- Maintaining a rodent colony, measuring weights, and recording visual observations in inflammatory disease models.
- Completing animal tutorial training and receiving certification in general laboratory safety.
Benefits
- Competitive salary and benefit package
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
