West Virginia University Looking for Research Technician, Department of Biology – ECAS Full Time

Description 

West Virginia University Research Corporation Eberly College of Arts & Sciences is currently accepting applications for a Research Technician.

About the Opportunity

As a Research Technician, you will assist in gathering and analyzing data in a developmental neurobiology lab. Our findings will help characterize the molecular genetic mechanisms that are essential for normal vertebrate brain formation and function. The individual will also be responsible for maintaining and managing a small zebrafish facility that is essential to our research and over time will provide opportunities for small collaborations with other labs, particularly at WVU, who are interested in working with zebrafish.

You will provide support to a developmental neurobiology research lab using zebrafish. Our zebrafish facility is a small aquatic housing system that consists of approximately 350 tanks. Zebrafish will require care and husbandry tasks be performed Monday through Friday and some weekends and holidays. In addition to managing and maintaining the zebrafish colony, the individual will also support research in the lab through performing experiments involving molecular biological techniques, gene expression analyses, fish behavioral assays, microdissection, microscopy, and imaging. The individual will also support the principal investigator of the lab in oversight and training of other support staff, lab members, and students in the zebrafish facility and the lab. Other duties include maintaining general lab organization and cleanliness, proper handling and disposal of wastes, placing and tracking orders, and generating and updating lab databases and protocols.

At WVU Research Corporation, we strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU Research Corporation offers a comprehensive benefits package with a variety of options to suit your needs.:

• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• PTO 
• 403(b) retirement savings with a fully vested 3% employee contribution match, (Employees have the option of contributing an additional 1-3% of their earnings to the plan, which is also matched by the WVURC) 
• A range of health insurance and other benefits 
• Dependent Education Scholarship
• WVU Perks
• And More!!

What you’ll do:

• Raise and maintain wild type, mutant, and transgenic zebrafish lines and in vitro fertilization
• Ship and receive zebrafish lines and laboratory equipment and reagents
• Generate mutant and transgenic zebrafish by microinjection of synthesized DNA and RNA, raising multiple generations, and screening
• Assure that the fish facility and laboratory are clean and organized per required safety and operating procedures
• Daily zebrafish health and water quality checks, daily feedings of live and dry foods, culturing live foods (rotifers and hatch fry), maintain detailed fish facility records
• Perform fin biopsies of zebrafish for genotyping and line maintenance
• Lift and move fish tanks containing up to 6L of water and occasionally transporting lab reagents up to 50 lbs.
• Recommend improvements to operating conditions or procedures based on evidence and experience 
• Maintain good working relationships with other lab members and faculty and staff in the WVU biology department
• Assist in training others in zebrafish care and in standard lab techniques and practices
• Stay current on best practices for managing a small university laboratory and zebrafish facility through reading published books and journal articles and possibly attend relevant conferences
• Abide by and knowing all animal care and use practices and lab safety standards of the university and our funding sources
• Prepare laboratory and fish facility stock solutions
• Respond to fish facility emergencies
• Ensure lab and fish facility equipment is maintained, operating, and calibrated as needed
• Order lab and fish facility supplies as needed and maintain records of all orders

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (i.e. biology, marine biology, biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology, genetics)
• Master’s degree preferred
• A minimum of one year of experience involving:  
• Research or teaching lab experience
• Experience with zebrafish or handling and caring of other aquatic organisms is highly desired
• Background in statistics would be beneficial.
• Maintaining excellent experimental records, analyzing data, and reporting to and discussing experimental outcomes with the principal investigator of the lab and more formally at lab meetings
• Computer (PC) skills: 
• Biological databases and bioinformatics resources
• Microsoft Office or equivalent (Excel, Word, Power Point)
• PubMed
• File Maker Pro or equivalent
• Other lab database software, Image acquisition, and processing software
• Knowledge of, willingness to learn and/or experience performing the following laboratory techniques: 
• DNA, RNA and protein extraction from fish tissue and cells, FACS, PCR, RT-PCR, qPCR, western blotting, molecular cloning, competent cell and agar plate preparation, gel electrophoresis 
• Gene/Protein expression analysis: in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, RNAseq
• Microscopy: light and fluorescence dissecting and compound scopes, confocal imaging, 2-photon imaging

About Research Corporation 

The WVURC was created as a not-for-profit corporation in 1985 to support research (R1) at West Virginia University.  We provide evaluation, development, patenting, management, and marketing services for inventions of the faculty, staff and students of the University.

The WVURC receives and administers funds awarded by external agencies for research and other activities and is responsible forhelping protect intellectual property through patents, copyrights and licensing agreements for start-up companies based on University research.

West Virginia University Research Corporation is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. We value diversity among its employees and invites applications from all qualified applicants regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, nationality, genetics, disability, or Veteran status.

Job Posting: Apr 8, 2022

Posting Classification: Research Corporation

Exemption Status: Non-Exempt

Benefits Eligible: Yes