Research Technician II

The Department of Nutritional Sciences and Wellness - Extension seeks an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join our group as a Research/Laboratory Assistant (Research Technician II) to work under the direction of Dr Richard Simpson. The successful individual will be expected to assist with ongoing research projects in both an exercise testing/physiology laboratory and a biochemical laboratory. Dr Simpson's research activities are predominantly concerned with how exercise impacts the immune system, utilizing both human and animal research models.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!

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Laboratory Activities

• Performs
  standard laboratory procedures such as maintaining cell cultures requiring the
  use of sterile techniques, processing tissue samples and preparing slides using
  staining techniques.
• Maintains
  animal colonies, which include feeding, watering, sexing and breeding the
  subjects.
• Operates
  laboratory and experimental equipment such as microscopes, flow cytometers, Pcr
  machines, spectrophotometers, centrifuges, analytical balances, photometers,
  spectrometers, metabolic carts and various pieces of exercise equipment for
  human test subjects.

Data Collection

• Collects and
  compiles research data.
• Completes basic
  calculations of test results.
• Handles all
  aspects of information intake from study subjects.
• Provides
  routine and technical administrative support to research projects.
• Collects
  samples or data and performs lab analysis and/or quantifies and tabulates
  results.
• Compiles data
  and assists in routine preliminary analyses; maintains research data in
  laboratory notebook, writes summary reports and reports findings to investigators.
• Assists with
  basic mathematical and statistical analyses.
• Sets up and
  performs a variety of lab or field tests and operations. Records results, makes
  observations, analyzes data, and interprets test results.
• Refines,
  adapts, and develops procedures or techniques to fit specific experiment
  requirements; modifies existing equipment or designs and fabricates requisite
  equipment.
• Collaborates with
  the development of new strategies, techniques and equipment.
• Participates in
  the preparation of technical reports, summaries, protocols and quantitative
  results.
• Coordinates the
  acquisition of lab supplies.
• Provides
  research administrative support including coordinating schedules, handling
  intake, maintaining records and files.

Maintenance Activities

• Operates,
  maintains and troubleshoots scientific apparatuses, equipment and instruments.
• Provides basic
  instruction to others on the use of this equipment.
• Organizes
  supplies, materials or equipment and sets up equipment for laboratory
  experiments or demonstrations; may perform minor equipment maintenance.
• Maintains
  detailed records of controlled substances in the laboratory; packages waste
  material and arranges for disposal according to established procedures.
• Cleans
  glassware and other laboratory equipment or materials using appropriate
  standards; keeps laboratory area clean.
• Cleans,
  sterilizes, operates, maintains, troubleshoots and repairs equipment, machinery
  and instruments used for research.
• Orders lab
  supplies and maintains inventory.
• Assists in
  conducting routine laboratory research activities under general supervision,
  ensuring adherence to established protocols and procedures.
• Participates in
  the calibration and validation of laboratory instruments to ensure accuracy and
  reliability in research applications.
• Maintains
  detailed records of experimental procedures, observations, results, and any
  deviations from standard methodologies in accordance with standards.
• Maintains
  cleanliness and organization within the laboratory environment, ensuring all
  equipment and instruments are properly calibrated and functional.
• Performs a
  variety of laboratory or field tests and experiments following detailed
  protocols.
• Sets up
  experiments and tests.

Technical Activities

• Assists in
  performing surgeries and dissections on animals which includes setting up
  equipment and supplies, preparing animals for surgery, anesthetizing and
  monitoring heart rate of animals and harvesting tissue samples and readily
  accessible organs.
• Follows
  established procedures to prepare solutions, media and reagents using
  arithmetical calculations for measuring; performs library research to find
  appropriate procedures, as required.
• Performs
  clerical tasks such as filing, typing, labeling and billing; inventories and
  requisitions supplies and materials.
• Assists in
  training Research/Laboratory Glassware Attendants and/or students working in
  the laboratory.

Knowledge, Skills
and Abilities

• Knowledge of
  methods and analytical techniques used in both an exercise testing/physiology
  laboratory and a biochemical laboratory. These include, but are not limited to,
  metabolic carts, cycling/treadmill ergometers, flow cytometers, cell culture, QRT
  PCR, murine husbandry, murine dissection and tissue processing,
  immunohistochemistry and spectrophotometry.
• Ability to
  effectively communicate.
• Skill in
  recording research data.

This job posting reflects the general nature and level of work expected of the selected candidate(s). It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The institution reserves the right to amend or update this description as organizational priorities and institutional needs evolve.

• High school
  diploma or high school diploma equivalency is required.
• Minimum of 3
  years of relevant experience, or equivalent combination of education and work
  experience.

• Bachelor's degree in Biology or Immunobiology.
• Three years experience as a research assistant/laboratory technician.
• Evidence of contributions to scholarly research outputs (i.e. published scientific papers or abstracts).