Lab Technician - Dept. of Physiology & Biophysics

All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes: comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, generous tuition benefit, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more. Learn more about VCU’s benefits here.

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:

A Lab & Research Technician position is available in the laboratory of Dr. Liya Qiao in the Department of Physiology & Biophysics at Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine. The successful candidate chosen for this position will participate in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded projects focusing on the role of primary afferent regulation of bowel function and dysfunction. 

Primary Responsibilities: 

• Performing molecular and behavioral assays using rodent models of both inflammatory and non-inflammatory bowel diseases
• Mouse transgenic colony maintenance and genotyping, tissue dissection, cell culture and live cell imaging, Western blot, RNA isolation, PCR, immunohistochemistry and microscopy, qPCR and other related biochemical assays
• Must be able to work with rodents and be able to perform animal surgery, drug administration, perfusion, and behavioral testing
• Should have experience in the design and execution of research projects, be able to report and interpret results to the principal investigator, present results to other laboratory staff and students, as well as assist other staff and troubleshoot experiments and instrument problems
• Must be able to maintain detailed records of results from the experiments
• Maintain the lab in order, oversee lab safety, ordering and record-keeping lab supplies and mentoring incoming students/fellows on certain experimental techniques

Minimum Hiring Standards: 

• At least 1 year of experience working in a medical science research laboratory
• Some experience performing molecular biology/biochemical assays
• Good organizational skills and the ability to work in a team environment
• 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 Hiring Standards: 

• A bachelor's degree in a biological field is highly preferred
  

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: 34051-34053

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!

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