Research Technician II

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Position Overview:

Implement technical activities of a scientific or research group in relation to the operation of specialized laboratories. Acts as an advisor to subordinates to meet schedules and/or resolve technical problems. Develops assay budgets, schedules, and performance requirements. Frequently interacts with other labs and coordinates the program activities with responsibility for results in terms of costs, methods, and employees. Serve as an advisor to faculty and lab managers to meet schedules and or resolve technical problems. Insure Standard Operating Procedures, GCLP and protocols are maintained and applied.

Minimum Requirements:

Education: Work generally requires a bachelor’s degree in botany, biology, zoology, psychology or other directly related field.

Experience: None required above education/training requirement.

OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EXPERIENCE AND/OR EDUCATION.

Preferred Qualifications:

Laboratory experience is helpful.

Must be detail-oriented, well organized and approach procedures with critical thinking of the technical aspects with strong communication skills and ability to work in an interactive team environment as well as independent.

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Position Description:

• Process and isolate mononuclear cells from human and nonhuman primate blood and other tissues and conduct subsequent steps involved in the phenotypic evaluation of cells by flow cytometry, including cellular staining techniques and data acquisition, analysis, and maintenance.
• Perform ordering responsibilities for the laboratory, including taking inventory, restocking, submitting orders, managing samples, and coordinating with other lab members regarding their specific assay needs.
• Perform cell culture, virus, and reagent preparation for immunologic and virologic assays, specially SIV and SARS-Cov-2 using the Qiagen platform.
• Perform SIV and SARS-Cov-2 Viral Load PCR testing using the Qiagen platform for contracted studies. Laboratory responsibilities include successfully loading and unloading samples and reagents onto Qiagen instruments, monitoring instruments during use, maintaining instrument related records, performing routine maintenance, maintaining proper knowledge of each study being tested, troubleshooting errors, preparing reagents, constructing reagent validation panels, reporting equipment malfunction/non-conformances, etc. Compile and report data, including accumulating yearly results into the appropriate logs to track longitudinal study and quarterly data. Maintain sample chain of custody by tracking all incoming samples and confirming receipt of shipment with team members and senders, as needed. Create and utilize an inventory log for all necessary reagents and consumables used in the laboratory, including updating log on a per use basis and maintaining adequate supplies based on inventory. Maintain cleanliness of laboratory spaces, including freezer defrosts and proper disposal of chemical waste. Assist in training colleagues on the assay and instrument use, as needed. Efficiently communicate with laboratory supervisors.
• Conduct Non-Human Primate (NHP) Whole Blood PBMC Processing based upon scheduled collection dates. Work includes but not limited to setting up laboratory spaces, layering, isolation of buffy coats/plasma/PBMCs, cellular evaluation, accurate record keeping of data, proper cryopreservation, timely storage into LDMS, etc.
• Perform VQA HIV qualitative testing on Cepheid GeneXpert with both whole blood and dried blood spots. Conduct proficiency panels for stability and homogeneity of samples, as needed. Perform required maintenance on Cepheid instrument. Participate in VQA RNA Production.
• Performs serum/plasma and cell isolation, leukopak processing, and Cryo preservation of cells and cryogenic cells evaluations.
• Perform repository task such as inventory, temperature monitoring etc.
• Prepare and process specimens for virological procedures, Virus Culture, Real Time PCR, ELISA, Western Blot, and devise experimental techniques for testing and analysis as directed by laboratory manager.
• Maintain quality checks on safety of laboratories, including biohazards and insure maintenance of the facilities according to Good Clinical Laboratory Practices (GCLP).
• Assist and coordinate maintenance and calibrations, specifically involving Qiagen/ThermoFisher instruments and laboratory-wide pipettes. Including communication with vendors and laboratory staff, scheduling dates of service, preparing instruments, setting up workspaces and supplies, completing malfunction/non-conformance reports, etc.
• Responsible for monitoring and maintaining laboratory climate control for operational efficiency.
• Assist to maintain and order sufficient inventory of materials currently used laboratory, supplies and equipment for performance of relative assay including plastics ware, media and specified instrument reagents and instrument QC samples.
• Assist to set up lab equipment used in laboratory related assays. Assist with upkeep such as setup, temperature monitoring, daily verify w/QC, proficiency, operate, perform daily maintenance, troubleshooting, record keeping, etc. as instructed.
• Perform proficiency testing [. e. CAP, IQA, UKNEQAS etc.].
• Perform QC & QA daily verification for DxH 520 Hematology, ViCell Blu, ViCell XR, Cepheid GeneXpert, and Liquid Nitrogen (LN2) levels and assist in maintaining instrument related records.
• Setting up & participate in all aspects of the EQA send outs, [labeling tubes, prepare shipping boxes, shipping labels, aliquoting samples, testing samples, data summary for flow samples etc.].
• Perform data summaries, procedural summaries; log keeping, assist in writing up for standard operating procedures, GCLP related policies, methodology, standards, recommendations and QA & QC.
• Perform other laboratory or data management duties, including laboratory maintenanc