Research Technician I/II/III - Beckstead Lab
About The Position
The Beckstead Lab in the Aging & Metabolism Research Program is looking for a full time Research Technician at the I/II or III level to conduct behavioral research in mice associated with substance abuse and neurodegenerative diseases. The candidate’s primary responsibility (70%) will be running behavioral assays in support of the lab’s NIH-funded projects. This will include planning, executing, and organizing data from operant food and drug self-administration, and also locomotor and cognitive assays. The applicant will be expected to act as a liaison with animal care personnel, ensure compliance with safety and animal use oversight, and monitor the health and sometimes the diet of experimental mice. Other duties (30%) are varied and will include ordering supplies and reagents, speaking with vendors, and acting as a liaison with the OMRF Preclinical Behavior and Surgical Suite. Opportunities for future growth include performing survival surgeries on rodents (including jugular catheter implantation, virus injections, and cannulae placement), studies involving immunohistochemistry (staining tissue sections, imaging), and aiding in recording of electrical activity in single neurons.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in one of the biological sciences, physics, chemistry, or related area such as psychology, or equivalent years of relevant lab experience.
- Basic understanding of laboratory procedures.
- Experience or the ability to learn statistical procedures, as well as methods and practices typical to neuroscience.
- Advanced computer skills including data acquisition, Microsoft Office software, order processing, and methods for backing up data.
- Reliability and attention to detail.
- Effective communication skills.
- Ability to follow through on job-related tasks.
- Demonstrated high level of scientific rigor.
- Ability to work independently as well as part of a team.
- Ethical behavior.
Nice To Haves
- Two (2) years of relevant lab experience.
- Experience handling and working with rodents.
- Molecular biology skills.
- Immunohistochemistry skills.
- Imaging skills.
- Microscopy skills.
Responsibilities
- Running behavioral assays in support of the lab’s NIH-funded projects.
- Planning, executing, and organizing data from operant food and drug self-administration, locomotor and cognitive assays.
- Acting as a liaison with animal care personnel.
- Ensuring compliance with safety and animal use oversight.
- Monitoring the health and diet of experimental mice.
- Ordering supplies and reagents.
- Speaking with vendors.
- Acting as a liaison with the OMRF Preclinical Behavior and Surgical Suite.
Benefits
- Medical insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Minimum 8% company retirement contribution
- Vacation leave
- Sick leave
- Paid holidays
- Onsite cafe
- Free onsite fitness center with access to personal trainer
- Free parking
- Relocation assistance available for those located 50 miles outside of Oklahoma City metro.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
