Locations: Charlottesville, VA

Time type: Full time

Job requisition id: R0049915

The Wenker Laboratory at the University of Virginia, Department of Anesthesiology, seeks a full-time Lab and Research Technician 1 or 2. 

The Wenker Lab focuses on brainstem neural circuits that contribute to fatal seizures, and this position will support federal grants focused on elucidating mechanisms of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). The experiments proposed are cutting-edge and address the essential and open field of SUDEP research.  

UVA Anesthesiology provides an environment where expertise and passions thrive, utilizing our extraordinary team of anesthesia physicians, trainees, nurses and staff to advance patient care within UVA Health. With excellence in physician leadership, research, education and innovations, we strive to improve perioperative outcomes, establish unparalleled practices in patient care, and advance the field of anesthesiology globally.  Clinical and Basic Science Research are an essential part of the mission in the UVA Department of Anesthesiology.

This position will provide both routine lab functions, as well as more advanced neuroscience procedures. Routine lab functions may include: managing the mouse colony, genotyping, making solutions, ordering lab supplies and maintaining inventory, and organizing and maintaining records and lab SOPs. Advanced neuroscience procedures may include: performing stereotaxic surgery on mice, performing experiments to record EEG, ECG, and breathing during seizures in mice, administering pharmaceutical agents to mice, and performing histology and microscopy. In addition to the above job responsibilities, other duties may be assigned.

This position will report to the Principal Investigator (PI). All team members meet individually with the PI weekly to summarize their progress and troubleshoot their projects. They will also participate in the Epilepsy Interest Group here at UVA by attending weekly meetings as deemed fit by the PI.

To be considered as a Lab and Research Technician 1a high school diploma or equivalent with at least 1 year of lab experience, which may include student experience. Bachelor’s degree will be considered in lieu of experience.

To be considered as a Lab and Research Technician 2 an associates degree is required with at least two years of lab experience which may include student experience is required. Bachelor’s degree will be considered in lieu of experience.

Minimum Requirements

• Proficient with Microsoft Word and Excel, comfortable learning computer software systems, and capable of basic mathematical calculations and data presentation.
• Comfortable handling rodents.

Preferred Qualifications

• Excellent organizational skills.
• Interest in basic neuroscience and/or epilepsy research.
• Undergraduate level studies in neuroscience or related field.
• Significant experience in one or more Job Responsibilities listed above.

Physical Demands

This position can spend extensive periods of time standing and squatting while conducting experiments or caring for animals. Also requires keyboarding and other bench work and animal procedures requiring finer finger manipulation.  

For additional information about the position, please contact Ian Wenker at icw7f@virginia.edu.

This position is located in Charlottesville, VA.

Review of Applicants will begin 7/27 and the position will remain open until filled.   The University will perform background checks on all new hires prior to employment.  A completed pre-employment health screen is required for this position prior to employment. 

To Apply:

Please apply through Workday, and search for R0049915. Internal applicants must apply through their UVA Workday profile by searching ‘Find Jobs’. Complete an application online with the following documents:

• CV/resume
• Cover letter describing the applicant’s education, research experience, and career goals

All documents can be loaded into the resume submission field, multiple documents can be submitted into this one field. Internal applicants must apply through their UVA Workday profile. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

References will be completed via UVA’s standardized process Skill Survey.  A total of five references will be requested via Skill Survey during the final phase of the interview process.

For questions about the application process, please contact Ashley Cochran, Senior Recruiter at alc6dk@virginia.edu.

For more information about UVA and the Charlottesville community please see http://www.virginia.edu/life/charlottesville and https://embarkcva.com/.

The University of Virginia, including the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician’s Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff.  We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person’s perspectives and lived experiences.  We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, and family medical or genetic information.