Univ – Research Specialist I – Neuroscience

Clinical & Research Support Services          ·         Charleston, South Carolina            ·           Full time

• R-0000011094
• Charleston, South Carolina
• Laboratory
• Clinical & Research Support Services
• Full Time

Job Description Summary

A laboratory in the Department of Neuroscience focused on understanding mechanisms associated with alcohol addiction is recruiting a technician to provide support in their ongoing studies. The job duties involve planning and carrying out routine experiments and techniques. This encompasses the organization and performance of behavioral studies in rats and mice, oversight of regulatory and compliance issues, and standard operating protocol implementation and development. Studies include behavioral research including voluntary alcohol drinking, as well as behavioral testing using models of stress, anxiety, and aggression. In addition, the position will involve resource allocation (behavior room scheduling), rodent surgery, immunohistochemistry and microscopy for examination of rodent brain tissue, and viral vector injection into rodent brain and handling of BSL2 biohazards. The technician will also be required to handle rodents and maintaining animal colonies.

Entity: Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC – Univ)
Worker Type: Employee
Worker Sub-Type​: Research Grant
Cost Center: CC000984 COM NEURO RES Operations CC
Pay Rate Type: Hourly
Pay Grade: University-04
Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40
Work Shift

Job Description

Job Duties:

• 30% – Perform various experimental procedures including, but not limited to, executing behavioral protocols (testing mice on cognitive tasks) and alcohol self-administration studies, administering drugs by various routes of administration (injection, inhalation, infusion), preparing drugs and solutions, conducting stereotaxic surgery to implant chronic indwelling cannula in mice for long-term recordings or behavioral manipulations, facilitate data collection for fiber photometry and in vivo electrophysiology studies from mice during tasking measuring cognition alcohol drinking, and anxiety-like behaviors.
• 20% – Perform various procedures for tissue and fluid specimen collection (e.g., brain slicing, brain extraction, blood collection), wet lab techniques including western immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry, RNA extraction and PCR, advanced microscopy techniques including confocal and light sheet microscopy in rodent brain tissue, and 3D image analysis using Imari Sand other analytical software. 
• 20% – Administrative duties include lab organization and cleaning of working benchtops, supply ordering, animal ordering and inventory, coordinate and manage the behavioral testing rooms and animal breeding colony, maintain and schedule service for laboratory equipment, and perform daily animal husbandry activities to maintain the health of animals in support of the research program and according to regulatory policies.
• 15% – Preparation and oversight of laboratory standard operating procedures (SOPs) Andia CÚC/IBC protocols, including writing and editing of laboratory procedures and submitting amendments to the IACUC/IBC protocols. Responsible for data management, including the collection, organization, and maintenance of behavioral and biological data sets within laboratory notebooks, servers, and online document storage devices, as well as graphing and statistical analysis of data.
• 10% – Prepare, coordinate, and manage studies and equipment access across all laboratory staff(technicians, students, postdocs, PIs) – this includes planning and communicating effectively. Maintain online scheduling calendars for equipment and room use.
• 5% – Supervise staff and maintain regulatory compliance by ensuring that staff follow standard laboratory procedures. Additional Knowledge, skill, ability preferred: Prior experience in preclinical rodent research is preferred. 

Minimum Requirements:

A high school diploma and two years work experience in a clinical or research setting; a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biology, or other natural, life or health care science may be substituted for the two years of required experience.

Preferred/ Additional Requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree in biochemistry, neuroscience, molecular cell biology, cellular neurobiology, immunology, or any other related fields is required.
• The successful candidate should have good team working skills and be able to manage time efficiently.
• Accurate record keeping and being attentive to detail are required.
• Candidates should be able to use Microsoft Excel and have at least moderate proficiency in general
• PC computer skills (software use, file management).

Physical Requirements:

(Note: The following descriptions are applicable to this section: Continuous – 6-8 hours per shift; Frequent – 2-6 hours per shift; Infrequent – 0-2 hours per shift)

• Ability to perform job functions in an upright position. (Continuous) 
• Ability to perform job functions in a seated position. (Continuous)
• Ability to perform job functions while walking/mobile. (Frequent) 
• Ability to climb stairs. (Infrequent)
• Ability to work indoors. (Continuous) 
• Ability to work in all cold temperature extremes, i.e. spot coolers. (Frequent)
• Ability to bend at the waist. (Frequent)
• Ability to twist at the waist. (Frequent) 
• Ability to perform ‘pinching’ operations. (Continuous)
• Ability to fully use both hands/arms. (Continuous) 
• Ability to perform repetitive motions with hands/wrists/elbows and shoulders. (Continuous) 
• Ability to fully use both legs. (Continuous)
• Ability to reach in all directions. (Continuous)
• Possess good finger dexterity. (Continuous) 
• Ability to maintain tactile sensory functions. (Continuous)
• Ability to maintain good olfactory sensory function. (Continuous)
• Ability to lift and carry 15 lbs., unassisted. (Frequent)
• Ability to lift objects, up to 15 lbs., from floor level to height of 72 inches, unassisted. (Frequent) Ability to lower objects, up to 15 lbs., from height of 72 inches to floor level, unassisted. (Frequent) Ability to push/pull objects, up to 15 lbs., unassisted. (Infrequent)
• Ability to lift and carry objects up to 15 lbs. a distance of five (5) floors and to outlying buildings. 
• Ability to maintain 20/40 vision, corrected. (Continuous) 
• Ability to see and recognize objects close at hand. (Continuous)
• Ability to see and recognize objects at a distance. (Continuous) 
• Ability to match or discriminate between colors. (Continuous)
• Ability to determine distance/relationship between objects; depth perception. (Continuous)
• Good peripheral vision capabilities. (Continuous)
• Ability to maintain hearing acuity, with correction. (Continuous)
• Ability to perform gross motor functions with frequent fine motor movements. (Continuous) 
• Ability to be qualified physically (by medical personnel) for respirator use, initially and annually. Ability to work alone in isolated areas, such as darkrooms. (Frequent)

Additional New Requirements: 

• Ability to obtain and maintain a valid drivers license. 
• Computer literacy. 
• Ability to work rotating shifts as required.
• Ability to work overtime as required.
• Ability to learn and use new processes, tools and equipment as required.

Additional Job Description

A high school diploma and two years work experience in a clinical or research setting; a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biology, or other natural, life or health care science may be substituted for the two years of required experience.

If you like working with energetic enthusiastic individuals, you will enjoy your career with us!

The Medical University of South Carolina is an Equal Opportunity Employer. MUSC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, age, sex, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected veteran status, family or parental status, or any other status protected by state laws and/or federal regulations. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment based upon applicable qualifications, merit and business need.

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