Senior Laboratory Technician - Microbiology And Immunology

Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action university providing access to education and employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, political affiliation, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or disability.

Position Summary:

The Senior Laboratory Technician will assist the Principal investigator and seniorscientists in conducting extramurally funded research projects that seek tounderstand the molecular pathogenesis of intracellular bacterial pathogens (Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Orientia tsutsugamushi) and todevelop novel approaches for protecting against the infections that they cause.This will include performing experiments as instructed, eventually being ableto design experiments autonomously, performance, and excellent record keepingwith the end result being publication ready materials. The individual willoversee general laboratory operations to include ordering; maintenance ofIACUC, IRB, and biosafety protocols; maintenance of lab equipment, and fixedassets. At times, the individual will assist with mouse colony maintenance.

Core Responsibilities: 

1.) Assessmentof bacterial pathogenesis:

• Involvespurifying intracellular bacteria from infected cells, performinginfection assays under various conditions, and assessing infectivity in naivecells
  

2.) Yeastsuppressor screening:

• Involvestransforming yeast with plasmids encoding bacterial effector proteins +/- yeastgenome fragments to surmise eukaryotic pathways that the effectors modulate,PCR, E. coli transformation, plasmid isolation, DNA sequencing, correlatingsequencing results, literature searching, tabulating results into organizedexcel files

3.) Molecularbiology experiments:

• Genecloning, construct design, plasmid preparation, PCR, In fusion PCR, QCR,RT-PCR, RT-QPCR, western blot, protein expression & purification,immunoprecipitation, in silico analyses of DNA and protein sequences

4.) Mouseexperiments:

• Maintainmouse colonies, infect mice, monitor infection, monitor mice for effects ofinfection

5.) Exosomeexperiments:

• Exosomepurification, quantification, downstream experimentation

6.) Laboratorymaintenance:

• Orderingsupplies, record keeping of P-card purchases, helping maintain lab cleanliness,assist with maintaining online biosafety, animal, and human subjects protocol

7.) Maintainingproper records:

• Diligentlykeep laboratory notebook of all experiments

Minimum Hiring Standards:

• Master's of sciencein the life sciences, preferably biology, biochemistry, or microbiology. Alternatively, aBachelor's of science in the above sciences plus a minimum of 3 years' relevantexperience
• Computer skills including data management, wordprocessing, Excel
• A demonstrated proficiency in keeping detailednotes, files and records organized
  
• Ability to effectively multitask 
• A strong, diligent work ethic
• Attentionto detail
• Excellentcommunication skills
• Must have a demonstrated commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion in past experiences or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Atleast two years' prior experience working in a laboratory
• Experienceworking with mammalian tissue culture
• Experienceworking with yeast, yeast genetics
• Experienceworking with E. coli, transformation
• Experience withmolecular biology (e.g., plasmid preparation, Western blot, PCR, QPCR,immunoprecipitation, cloning, construct design)
• Experiencein cell biology (immunofluorescence microscopy, confocal microscopy,transfection, siRNA, CRISPR)
• Experiencein working with mice, maintaining a mouse colony, breeding, performinginfection experiments in mice, harvesting blood and organs from mice
• Previouslab experience involving flow cytometry, cultivation of a BSL-2pathogen, and molecular biology skills
• Experiencein working with BSL-2 and/or BSL-3pathogens or a willingness to be trained to work in a BSL-3 laboratory

The School of Medicine continuously strives for our workplace and learning environment to reflect the demographic and social milieu of the communities we serve. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.

This is a restricted position with no set end date and continued employment is dependent upon project need, availability of funding, and performance.

University Job Code: 34054-34056

ORP Eligible: No

VCU is committed to hiring veterans! VCU will include a veteran's period(s) of military service in the calculation of their annual leave accrual rate. This may provide veterans with an increased leave accrual!

Salary Range: $46,900-$56,300

Position Details:

Department: Microbiology and Immunology
Employment Type: UF - University Employee FT
Restricted Status: Yes
FTE: 100
Exemption Status: Non-Exempt

Contact Information:

Contact Name: SOM HR