Lab/Research Technician - Dept. of Anatomy and Neurobiology

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Position Summary:

The objective of this position is to provide expert technical assistance with the day-to-day and research operations of a molecular and behavioral neuroscience laboratory in the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology. The responsibilities of this position include maintaining the laboratory, which includes general laboratory purchasing, maintenance, and training personnel. However, most of the effort should be directed to participating in the research aims of the laboratory. This could include: 1) performing mouse behavioral assays, including drug self-administration experiments, 2) maintaining and performing experiments in immortalized mammalian cell culture preparations, OR 3) performing bench-top molecular biology experiments, with emphasis on epigenetics/chromatin biology. Contributing to these research aims would yield the candidate authorship on conference proceedings and manuscript publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Such technical and research support will help the PI maintain the laboratory, recruit postdoctoral fellows and graduate students, and maintain external funding.

The laboratory investigates the neurobiology of drug addiction and depression with emphasis on neuroepigenetic mechanisms. The lab utilizes a broad cross-section of approaches including: design and synthesis of neuroepigenetic editing CRISPR constructs, cloning, mammalian cell culture and transfection, qRT-PCR, Western blot, mouse stereotaxic surgery and viral gene delivery, IHC, confocal imaging, mouse behavioral assays, RNA-isolation and library prep, RNA-sequencing, and ChIP-sequencing. Familiarity with some of these techniques is strongly preferred, as the candidate will be managing purchases to help retain these techniques within the lab. The job requires attention to detail, problem-solving, and a willingness to work closely with a diverse team to advance the mission of the laboratory.

Core Responsibilities:

Anticipate future laboratory needs and order reagents and supplies as needed to ensure that lab productivity is optimal. Interact with vendors. Performcompliance and organizational tasks as assigned. Maintain a cleanwork environment. Trainand/or assist other lab members and trainees as requested by the PI

1) Be familiar, or demonstrate aptitude to become familiar with the following experimental approaches: Chronic Social Defeat Paradigm, Social Interaction, drug intravenous self-administration, Conditioned Place Preference, and Locomotor Sensitization behavioral assays. Have experience with Ethovision, other behavioral tracking software, or Med Associate programming. Be willing to assist others within the laboratory with mouse intracranial stereotaxic surgery (for viral delivery)and tissue harvesting. 2) Be familiar, or demonstrate aptitude to become familiar with the following experimental approaches: culturing and passaging N2a cells, lipid-based transient transfection, Qiagen kit chemistry (Mini/Maxi-preps, RNA isolation), Sanger sequencing, reporter assays. Demonstrate self-motivation to maintain cell lines and monitor liquid nitrogen dewar with cell repository. 3) Be familiar, or demonstrate aptitude to become familiar with the following experimental approaches: Western blotting, qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, ChIP-sequencing, Co-IP, chromatin shearing. Be willing to design experiments and train others