Research Technician – Liu Lab

Howard Hughes Medical Institute • Ashburn, VA

4d • $45,440 - $67,300 • Onsite

About The Position

The Liu lab seeks a highly motivated, well-organized Research Technician to contribute to research on communication between the lungs and brain and support the lab’s transition to a new institution. The lab studies how internal states of the lungs are encoded by sensory neurons and downstream circuits, and how these signals regulate physiology and behavior, using molecular, genetic, imaging, and whole-animal physiology approaches.

The Research Technician will conduct mouse surgeries, tissue staining and imaging, and molecular assays to investigate the anatomical and molecular properties of the pulmonary sensory circuit. The role also includes maintaining laboratory records, organizing protocols and inventory, tracking mouse colonies, and helping transfer and establish laboratory resources and workflows during the lab’s move. The position is intended as a long-term research staff role, and the successful candidate must be willing to relocate with the lab to a new institution within the next 1–2 years.

The role offers one-on-one mentoring and scientific training with the lab head, access to research facilities and a collaborative environment, and opportunities to build expertise in animal surgery, molecular assays, imaging, and computational analysis; interact with experts across several scientific fields; contribute to establishing a laboratory at a new institution; and attend scientific workshops and conferences.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in biology, neuroscience, or a related field, with relevant laboratory research experience.
• At least three years of hands-on experience working with laboratory mice, including animal handling and experimental procedures.
• Strong organizational skills and demonstrated ability to maintain accurate and detailed experimental records.
• Excellent attention to detail, reliability, and ability to follow established experimental protocols.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Willingness to learn new experimental techniques and adapt to evolving research needs.
• Willingness to relocate with the lab to a new institution within the next 1–2 years.

Nice To Haves

• Experience performing survival surgeries in mice, including anesthesia, aseptic surgical procedures, and postoperative care.
• Experience with tissue dissection, histology, immunohistochemistry, or whole-mount staining.
• Experience with RNA in situ hybridization, particularly fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) or multiplexed RNA detection methods.
• Experience with fluorescence microscopy, confocal microscopy, or light-sheet microscopy.
• Experience with mouse colony management, laboratory inventory, and protocol documentation.
• Experience troubleshooting and optimizing experimental techniques.

Responsibilities

• Perform mouse surgeries for cell population targeting, physiological monitoring, and neural activity recording.
• Perform tissue dissection, fixation, and immunostaining.
• Conduct confocal and light-sheet microscopy and assist with image acquisition, organization, and analysis.
• Learn, implement, and perform multiplexed fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to characterize gene expression in tissues.
• Optimize experimental protocols, troubleshoot technical problems, and maintain consistent experimental quality.
• Collaborate with other lab members on ongoing research projects.
• Maintain accurate records of mouse colonies, including breeding, genotyping, and experimental use.
• Organize and maintain laboratory inventory, including reagents, supplies, and experimental materials.
• Maintain and document laboratory protocols to ensure reproducibility and facilitate training.
• Assist with organizing, transferring, and establishing laboratory resources and research workflows during the transition to a new institution.
• Help maintain an organized and efficient laboratory environment.

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• Exceptional health benefits
• Retirement plans
• Time off
• Recognition and wellness programs
• One-on-one mentoring and scientific training with the lab head
• Access to state-of-the-art research facilities and a collaborative research environment
• Opportunities to attend scientific workshops and conferences

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level