Research Technician - College of Engineering - Department of Mechanical Engineering

Carnegie Mellon University•Pittsburgh, PA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Carnegie Mellon University's Department of Mechanical Engineering is seeking a Research Technician to join their team. This role involves working at the intersection of engineered-cell culture, optical biosensing, and device-oriented in vitro testing. The primary focus will be on developing, executing, and documenting calibration workflows for cells designed to measure clinically relevant biomarkers. This includes maintaining and testing engineered cell lines, establishing in vitro calibration protocols, building and operating benchtop test setups, collecting fluorescence-based measurements, analyzing quantitative readouts, and preparing detailed experimental documentation. The candidate will collaborate closely with faculty, postdoctoral researchers, students, engineers, and external collaborators, and is well-suited for a technically proficient researcher with hands-on experience in mammalian cell culture, fluorescence-based assays, quantitative experimental workflows, and careful protocol development.

Requirements

M.S. degree in Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Bioengineering, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, or a closely related field.
2 years of relevant laboratory experience beyond the degree.
Experience with thesis-based cell culture, assay development, fluorescence imaging, or bioengineering.
Experience with several of the following: Mammalian cell culture, sterile technique, passaging, cryopreservation, cell viability assays, fluorescence microscopy or plate- reader assays, quantitative assay calibration, protocol development, data organization, and basic statistical analysis.
Successful background check.

Nice To Haves

Experience with engineered cells, biosensors, microphysiological systems, implantable- device testing, or co-culture/hydrogel environments is desirable but not required.
Preferred training: BSL-2 training, biosafety training, chemical hygiene training, animal- care training if future duties require it, or equivalent institutional laboratory certifications.

Responsibilities

Address assigned project milestones in a timely and well-documented manner.
Maintain mammalian cell cultures and prepare cells for calibration, viability, and functional testing.
Develop, execute, and refine standard operating procedures for engineered-cell handling and in vitro testing.
Operate fluorescence measurement systems, plate readers, microscopes, incubators, sterile hoods, and related benchtop equipment.
Record, organize, analyze, and archive experimental data in a traceable and reproducible manner.
Prepare technical summaries, figures, protocols, presentations, and reports for internal project meetings.
Coordinate with postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, faculty, and external collaborators.
Maintain laboratory supplies, cell stocks, reagent inventories, and equipment logs.
Follow all applicable biosafety, chemical safety, and institutional compliance procedures.
Establish and maintain in vitro test setups for calibration of engineered cells.
Culture, expand, bank, and prepare engineered cell lines.
Perform fluorescence-based calibration experiments using engineered cells that include biomarker-responsive signals and constitutive calibration signals.
Generate dose-response, dynamic-range, sensitivity, stability, and repeatability datasets under defined in vitro conditions.
Support evaluation of cell behavior under device-relevant culture conditions, including longer-duration studies when needed.
Work with engineers to ensure cell-testing protocols are compatible with optical hardware, device materials, cell compartments, and implant-relevant testing configurations.
Assist in identifying sources of signal drift, variability, cell loss, contamination, or measurement artifacts.
Prepare protocols suitable for transfer, replication, and milestone reporting.
Support additional cell- and engineering-related work across the projects in the Ozdoganlar laboratory.
Other duties as assigned.