Research Technician II - Hwang Liao Lab

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia•Philadelphia, PA

About The Position

This is an entry-level research technical role within the Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, at the CHOP Research Institute. The position involves participating in planned research projects by performing research protocols, experimental procedures, and other laboratory tasks under direct supervision. The role may occasionally involve minimal discretion and judgment in the execution and interpretation of experiments and data. The successful candidate will join a research program focused on craniofacial nerve development, neural crest stem cell biology, and neuronal biology, aiming to impact craniofacial malformations and peripheral nerve dysfunction (including neurodegenerative diseases like ALS/SMA). This opportunity is ideal for individuals interested in the intersection of basic and translational biomedical research with significant computational biology, offering scientific growth, interaction in a collaborative environment, and training in sophisticated experimental approaches.

Requirements

High School Diploma / GED
At least one (1) year of related classroom experience or successful completion of a technical training program (eg. Wistar, WPSI) and research laboratory experience
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
Bachelor's Degree in Biology, Cell Biology or Molecular Biology; Computer Science; Electrical/Computer/Biomedical Engineering, Biostatistics, or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience
At least two (2) years of related classroom experience or successful completion of a technical training program (eg. Wistar, WPSI) and research laboratory experience
Prior experiences with molecular biology and genetic models
Prior experiences with R/Python/or MATLAB

Responsibilities

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
Independently carry out the daily activities of the laboratory with minimal supervision
Molecular biology, cloning, cell cultures, zebrafish maintenance, mouse maintenance, wholemount RNA in situ
R/Python analyses and de novo script development for analysis pipelines
Assisting lab personnel with routine experiments
Documenting, compiling, and analyzing information obtained from laboratory experiments
Development of own project, new experimental techniques and assays and familiarity with statistical analysis
Systematic generation and maintenance of database/inventory of all lab supplies, plasmids, bacterial stocks, lab records and mouse colony
Maintain compliance with safety, biohazard and radioactivity guidelines
Communicates and coordinates with all lab members to ensure adherence to lab protocols
Training of new lab members in various techniques