GENERAL SUMMARY OF POSITION:   

Under the direct supervision of a Principal Investigator or designee, the Research Lab Tech II performs and interprets routine and highly complex experiments.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Performs a variety of laboratory experiments using both routine and special techniques and methods
• May assist in the training of others
• Provides input to improve current procedures, protocols, and/or methods
• Writes standard operating procedures, schedules work, orders supplies, and maintains an adequate inventory of supplies, reagents, etc.
• Prepares laboratory reagents, buffers, and media
• Records results, organizes data and performs computations
• Performs duties independently; requiring action and judgment to solve commonly encountered problems
• Complies with all safety and infection control standards appropriate to this position
• Perform other duties as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in a Biological Science or equivalent experience
• 1 year of related experience
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office products
• Ability to perform duties independently
• Judgment and action skills required to solve commonly encountered problems

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

Under the direct supervision of a Principal Investigator or designee

SUPERVISION EXERCISED: 

None

ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING CONDITIONS:

Wet chemistry laboratory, and may require appropriate contact with biohazards, radionucleotides, toxins, animals, and human specimens. 

Function: The lab studies the expression and function of genes involved in programmed cell death (Apoptosis), survival signaling and compensatory proliferation in Drosophila. Individual must be able to participate in all laboratory activities.

Scope:  Responsible for performing laboratory duties and experiments in accordance with instructions received from the supervisor. A detailed description is given below.

Fly husbandry

• Maintaining stock collection (transfer every 4 weeks)
• Keeping electronic copy of stock collection (FileMaker, Excel worksheet) up-to-date
• Fly trash disposal
• Ordering fly food from fly kitchen (weekly)
• Replace labels on vials (once a year)
• Sending out fly stocks and reagents to other researchers

Routine laboratory maintenance

• Overseeing laboratory equipment
• Organization of fridges and freezers
• Maintaining confocal microscope
• Training new users for use of confocal microscope
• Ordering reagents from vendors when needed
• Preparing solutions for general use (10x PBS, 10x TAE, etc.)
• Organization of the antibody collection
• Maintaining time sheet
• Additional duties on request

Experimentation

• Assist PI, postdocs or students in scientific projects
• Dissection of imaginal discs and other tissues
• Perform immunohistochemistry, TUNEL, BrdU, in-situ hybridization
• Obtaining data at the confocal microscope (after proper training)
• Participation in mutagenesis screens, RNAi screens
• Perform basic molecular biology experimental procedures including, but not limited to: PCR, DNA cloning, mini- and maxi-preps, Southern and Northern blot hybridization, Western blotting, and occasional library screening.
• Should be able to use various lab instruments correctly.
• Basic computer skills are needed (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Filemaker, Internet browser, etc.).
• Should speak, hear, write and read English well, with excellent comprehension. Must be open and willing to ask questions of faculty, postdoctoral fellows and other lab workers in seeking answers to problems, etc.
• Data recording and record keeping