Research Technician II - Sivaramakrishnan Lab

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia•Philadelphia, PA

6d•$43,900 - $54,800•Onsite

About The Position

This entry-level research technical role participates in planned research projects by performing research protocols, experimental procedures, and other laboratory tasks under direct supervision. The Sivaramakrishnan Lab uses the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans to investigate how cell identities are established during development, focusing on transcription and how gene regulatory programs coordinate cell-fate decisions. The lab is seeking a motivated Research Technician to support projects modeling human neurodevelopmental disorders caused by transcriptional dysregulation. The primary focus will be generating and characterizing C. elegans models of disease-associated genetic variants using CRISPR-based genome editing, followed by molecular, developmental, imaging, and behavioral analyses. Prior hands-on experience with C. elegans is strongly preferred. The ideal candidate will be comfortable maintaining worm strains, planning and conducting experiments, troubleshooting protocols, and documenting results carefully and reproducibly. This position offers the opportunity to take meaningful ownership of research projects while benefiting from access to experienced collaborators, institutional cores, and multidisciplinary scientific resources. While most work involves wet-lab C. elegans research, the technician will also help coordinate project activities involving other model organisms, particularly Drosophila, and may participate in compound- or drug-screening studies. The Research Technician will also contribute to the daily operation of the laboratory, including media and reagent preparation, strain organization, and mentoring.

Requirements

High School Diploma / GED - Required
At least one (1) year of related classroom experience or successful completion of a technical training program (eg. Wistar, WPSI) and research laboratory experience - Required
Intermediate understanding of lab procedures, protocols, and equipment.
Basic exposure to lab specific experiments / techniques and scientific analysis
Excellent verbal and written communications skills
Excellent organizational skills
Solid critical thinking / problem-solving skills
Solid analytical skills

Nice To Haves

Associate's Degree - Preferred
Bachelor's Degree - Preferred
At least two (2) years of related classroom experience or successful completion of a technical training program (eg. Wistar, WPSI) and research laboratory experience - Preferred
Prior hands-on experience working with C. elegans is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Maintain, propagate, cross, synchronize, and organize C. elegans strains.
Generate and validate humanized, knock-in, and other transgenic worm models using CRISPR-based genome-editing and molecular-genotyping approaches.
Design and perform molecular, developmental, behavioral, imaging, mitochondrial, and organismal assays to characterize disease-model phenotypes.
Support transcriptomic and genomics studies, including RNA-sequencing sample preparation, data organization, and coordination with genomics and bioinformatics cores.
Analyze results, troubleshoot experiments, prepare figures and presentations, and contribute to manuscripts.
Collaborate with researchers working in Drosophila, the CHOP Omics Initiative, institutional core facilities, and other project partners while supporting general laboratory operations and student training.
Performs routine tests / experiments under the direction of principal investigator, supervisor or other designee.
Performs research procedures on experimental samples as directed.
Records and checks experiments/ results for completeness and accuracy.
Performs calculations and maintains appropriate log and lab notebooks.
Performs tasks that require familiarity with fundamental techniques and lab equipment.
May assist with planning specific research protocols and procedures.
Maintains office, lab area, solutions, reagents, supplies and equipment, disposes of specimens, media and other materials (using appropriate procedures).
Assists in care and maintenance of lab equipment.
May coordinate schedules of tests and procedures.
Attends courses, seminars, and lab meetings to expand knowledge of research and laboratory techniques.
Records results, organizes data and maintains lab notebook in an organized manner.
Compiles and helps analyze data, prepares charts, graphs, and results of studies as directed.
Conducts literary searches as directed.