Technical Assistant I - II - Flow Cytometry Core Facility (Relocation Assistance Available!)

MIT Whitehead Institute•Cambridge, MA

1d•$47,000 - $52,000•Onsite

About The Position

The primary duty of the Technical Assistant I, Core of the FACS BSL2 core cytometry facility is to assist with oversight of daily operations of the flow cytometry core lab including operation, maintenance and troubleshooting of all instruments, as well as provide high quality flow cytometry service, user training and support to the Whitehead Institute investigators and Boston research community. The FACS Technical Assistant I will possess high level of proficiency on the BD FACSAria SORP in order to perform quality high-speed cell sorting. Additional duties include but are not limited to development of proficiency on core facility benchtop analyzers: the BD Symphony A1 with HTS, BD LSRFortessa with HTS, and BD FACSCanto with HTS and the SONY cell sorter. Other duties will be performed as scheduled or needed. All duties will be performed in accordance with the Whitehead Institute’s behavioral standards, safety standards, and mission.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in biology
2 years of experience in a research laboratory
1-2 years of experience in flow cytometry
Excellent organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills
Must be available to work flexible work hours as needed
Must be able to work well independently with minimal supervision
Must work well with researchers, engineers and institute staff in a customer-service oriented environment

Nice To Haves

No cell sorting required but it’s a plus

Responsibilities

Perform high-quality, High-Speed Cell Sorting for researchers
Perform scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, including data backup
Perform daily quality control and monitor instrument performance
Troubleshoot sorter and associated software and peripherals
Contact and interact with vendor service and FACSAria/ SONY field service engineers as needed
Log sorter and related software and peripheral problems and report to core staff
Enter Aria/ SONY usage into database
Develop and maintain proficiency with all benchtop analyzers and associated software and peripherals
Perform scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, including data backup
Perform quality control and monitor instrument performance
Troubleshoot benchtop analyzers and associated software and peripherals
Contact and interact with vendor service and FACS benchtop analyzer field service engineers as needed
Log benchtop analyzer and related software and peripheral problems and report to core staff
Provide high quality service to researchers
Work closely with researchers and Whitehead Institute staff to maintain good relationships
Orient new users to the lab
Assist researchers with their scheduling needs
Advise researchers on basic requirements for high speed cell sorting and benchtop Cytometer usage
Address problems immediately, if possible, log, and report to manager
Maintain sort appointment waiting list and notify researchers if an appointment is available
Log lateness and failure to cancel appointments
Approve sort appointments in Calendar system
Notify researchers of unscheduled instrument downtime
Assist with writing protocols and other writing as needed
Assist with ordering of supplies and billing as needed
Work closely with EH&S to review biosafety considerations for ongoing and new projects
Attend a minimum of one flow cytometry workshop, seminar, vendor show, or core lab visit per year
Attend a Whitehead Institute retreat
Become familiar with flow cytometry journals, associations, and resources
Assist with demos and tours as needed
Audit training sessions and provide feedback
Prepare reagents as needed
Assist with inventory and stocking of laboratory supplies
Maintain all work areas
Other duties, as assigned