Research Technician III, Cellular and Molecular Medicine

The University of Arizona•Tucson, AZ

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Churko Laboratory in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine is hiring a Research Specialist to support NIH-funded research on bicuspid aortic valve disease. The lab uses patient-derived human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to generate cardiomyocytes and other cardiac cell types, as well as a mouse model, to study the disease mechanisms with functional assays, single-cell genomics, and engineered heart tissues. This person will be the wet-lab expert: maintaining hiPSC lines and a mouse colony, performing iPSC-derived cardiac differentiations, executing molecular and cellular assays, performing primary culture isolations, and keeping the lab organized.

Requirements

High school diploma or high school diploma equivalency is required.
Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
Knowledge of cell biology, molecular biology, and biochemistry principles and techniques.
Ability to maintain consistent, aseptic tissue culture practices and procedures.
Skill in troubleshooting laboratory procedures and optimizing experimental protocols.
Knowledge in effective organization, communication, and project management.
Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a collaborative research team.
Ability to learn quickly & multitask.
Knowledge and skill in cell culture, molecular cloning, nucleic acid analysis, protein biochemistry, and microscopy techniques.
Knowledge in the safe and appropriate handling of laboratory mice.

Nice To Haves

B.S. degree with experience in cell biology, molecular biology, and/or biochemistry techniques.

Responsibilities

Conduct laboratory experiments with minimal supervision, including: Maintain, expand, and quality-control human iPSC lines, including thawing, passaging, cryopreservation, and mycoplasma testing; troubleshoot culture problems such as contamination, spontaneous differentiation, or poor viability, and recommend corrective actions to the PI.
Differentiate hiPSCs into cardiomyocytes and other cardiac lineages, including epicardial, fibroblast, and endothelial cells; characterize and validate differentiated cell populations.
Perform functional phenotyping of iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes using calcium imaging, contractility measurements, and related functional assays, and determine whether data meet quality criteria before analysis.
Perform molecular and cell biology assays, including RNA and protein isolation, qPCR, Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and microscopy, and troubleshoot assay failures.
Maintain mouse colonies for laboratory research, including: Plan and track breeding schemes and wean litters to maintain experimental lines.
Genotype mice and determine breeding and experimental assignments from results.
Harvest tissues for molecular and histological analysis.
Perform physiological assessments on study animals
Communicate experimental progress, problems, and results to the PI and laboratory staff.
Maintain accurate, detailed records of experiments and results, and enter data into laboratory databases.
Catalog specimens and samples.
Analyze and interpret experimental data independently and present findings to the PI.
Orders and catalogs laboratory supplies and supports laboratory operations.
Operating, maintaining and troubleshoot highly specialized and sophisticated scientific apparatuses, equipment, and instruments.