Research Technician II

The University of Arizona•Tucson, AZ

15h•Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Nutritional Sciences and Wellness - Extension seeks an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join our group as a Research/Laboratory Assistant (Research Technician II) to work under the direction of Dr Richard Simpson. The successful individual will be expected to assist with ongoing research projects in both an exercise testing/physiology laboratory and a biochemical laboratory. Dr Simpson’s research activities are predominantly concerned with how exercise impacts the immune system, utilizing both human and animal research models.

Requirements

High school diploma or high school diploma equivalency is required.
Minimum of 3 years of relevant experience, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
Knowledge of methods and analytical techniques used in both an exercise testing/physiology laboratory and a biochemical laboratory. These include, but are not limited to, metabolic carts, cycling/treadmill ergometers, flow cytometers, cell culture, QRT PCR, murine husbandry, murine dissection and tissue processing, immunohistochemistry and spectrophotometry.
Ability to effectively communicate.
Skill in recording research data.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Biology or Immunobiology.
Three years experience as a research assistant/laboratory technician.
Evidence of contributions to scholarly research outputs (i.e. published scientific papers or abstracts).

Responsibilities

Performs standard laboratory procedures such as maintaining cell cultures requiring the use of sterile techniques, processing tissue samples and preparing slides using staining techniques.
Maintains animal colonies, which include feeding, watering, sexing and breeding the subjects.
Operates laboratory and experimental equipment such as microscopes, flow cytometers, Pcr machines, spectrophotometers, centrifuges, analytical balances, photometers, spectrometers, metabolic carts and various pieces of exercise equipment for human test subjects.
Collects and compiles research data.
Completes basic calculations of test results.
Handles all aspects of information intake from study subjects.
Provides routine and technical administrative support to research projects.
Collects samples or data and performs lab analysis and/or quantifies and tabulates results.
Compiles data and assists in routine preliminary analyses; maintains research data in laboratory notebook, writes summary reports and reports findings to investigators.
Assists with basic mathematical and statistical analyses.
Sets up and performs a variety of lab or field tests and operations.
Records results, makes observations, analyzes data, and interprets test results.
Refines, adapts, and develops procedures or techniques to fit specific experiment requirements; modifies existing equipment or designs and fabricates requisite equipment.
Collaborates with the development of new strategies, techniques and equipment.
Participates in the preparation of technical reports, summaries, protocols and quantitative results.
Coordinates the acquisition of lab supplies.
Provides research administrative support including coordinating schedules, handling intake, maintaining records and files.
Operates, maintains and troubleshoots scientific apparatuses, equipment and instruments.
Provides basic instruction to others on the use of this equipment.
Organizes supplies, materials or equipment and sets up equipment for laboratory experiments or demonstrations; may perform minor equipment maintenance.
Maintains detailed records of controlled substances in the laboratory; packages waste material and arranges for disposal according to established procedures.
Cleans glassware and other laboratory equipment or materials using appropriate standards; keeps laboratory area clean.
Cleans, sterilizes, operates, maintains, troubleshoots and repairs equipment, machinery and instruments used for research.
Orders lab supplies and maintains inventory.
Assists in conducting routine laboratory research activities under general supervision, ensuring adherence to established protocols and procedures.
Participates in the calibration and validation of laboratory instruments to ensure accuracy and reliability in research applications.
Maintains detailed records of experimental procedures, observations, results, and any deviations from standard methodologies in accordance with standards.
Maintains cleanliness and organization within the laboratory environment, ensuring all equipment and instruments are properly calibrated and functional.
Performs a variety of laboratory or field tests and experiments following detailed protocols.
Sets up experiments and tests.
Assists in performing surgeries and dissections on animals which includes setting up equipment and supplies, preparing animals for surgery, anesthetizing and monitoring heart rate of animals and harvesting tissue samples and readily accessible organs.
Follows established procedures to prepare solutions, media and reagents using arithmetical calculations for measuring; performs library research to find appropriate procedures, as required.
Performs clerical tasks such as filing, typing, labeling and billing; inventories and requisitions supplies and materials.
Assists in training Research/Laboratory Glassware Attendants and/or students working in the laboratory.