Temporary Lab Technician

Department:

Location:

Health Sciences Center

Time Type:

Full time

Worker Type:

Temporary (Fixed Term)

Job Req ID:

R109199

Minimum Requirements:

4 years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Position Description:

The Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology is seeking a Temporary Lab Technician to conduct basic research in the area of molecular environmental toxicology, which includes combining cell culture, molecular biology, biochemistry and animal models of human disease. This individual will be working under the guidance of Dr. Sandra Diven in the Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. This individual’s primary role is to conduct experiments to define the key molecular mechanisms for how metals induce chromosome instability in humans, experimental animals and wildlife cells.

The individual will be responsible for conducting wet lab research studies focused on exposing cell lines or animal models to chemicals and measuring the consequences and outcomes of those chemical exposures. The work will include field work collecting tissues from wildlife and routine cell and animal maintenance. Assays that will frequently be performed include quantitative-real-time-polymerase chain reaction analysis, chromosome aberration analysis, western blotting, and immunofluorescence among others. Data analysis will include common and standard tools including graphical and tabular presentation of data. Regular laboratory maintenance, recording keeping, and inventory maintenance are expected. Some work will be conducted at sea on boats, in the brush catching alligators and on the beach sampling sea turtles late at night (as the turtles are only on the beach after dark). This work will involve contact with wild animals.

The individual hired will carry out research assignments for multifaceted research projects in cooperation with the Wise Laboratory team and perform laboratory experiments. Communicate regularly with Dr. Sandra Wise and Dr. John Wise, Sr. Their role is to support other laboratory employees by maintaining lab notebooks, conducting assays, labeling, and storing samples and managing stocks in accordance with laboratory protocols and maintain an understanding of biohazard safety and dispose of hazardous waste. The individual will support and perform experimental record keeping, rigorous and safe laboratory practices, and help ensure quality and accuracy of oral and written scientific presentations of laboratory staff, collaborate in the research associated with scientific projects, help to make the laboratory a professional and generally collegial, safe, and productive work environment. Applicant must be a self-motivated individual that can conduct guided experimentation.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Perform experimental research in the field of molecular environmental toxicology. This effort will include, but is not limited to cell culture, protein biochemistry, molecular biology techniques and animal experiments.

• Collect, analyze, and interpret data, and perform experiments under the direction of Dr. Diven.

• Report to Dr. Diven frequently on status of research, and lab activities.

• Actively and constructively work collaboratively with members of the laboratory and collaboration partners in the collection of samples, conduct research, writing and editing of materials for publication and presentation.

• Assist in fostering a collaborative laboratory environment of shared training responsibility, scientific integrity, and intellectual independence and maturity.

Preferred Qualifications         

• BS degree in Biology

• Prior experience working hands-on with marine mammals, alligators or sea turtles

• Comfortable working hands-on at sea on boats, in the brush catching alligators and on the beach sampling sea turtles late at night (as the turtles are only on the beach after dark).

• Comfort with experimental animal work.

Competencies   

• Proficient in MS Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint

• Effective oral, written and interpersonal communication skills

• Project Management - organized, task oriented, ability to delegate and follow up. Proactive - anticipates and plans for problems before they arise.

• Flexible – ability to change directions as needed for the good of the research or laboratory.

• Communication – Able to communicate and follow professional standards while interacting in a professional and collegial manner with internal and external contacts.

• Organized – manages time effectively, keeps tasks appropriately prioritized.

• Critical Thinking – ability to think through issues and identify appropriate options.

• Work Ethic – motivated, diligent, industrious, and persistent in the workplace, stays on tasks to completion, works at a fast pace to ensure optimal efficiency.

• Interpersonal – can build effective, strong working relationships with employees, colleagues, management and vendors through trust, communication, and credibility.

• Teamwork – Able to work effectively with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds and with widely varying levels of technical experience in ways that foster a climate of tolerance and respect while insisting upon scientific rigor and integrity.

• Ability to work with others, serve others, help others, lead others, mentor others, take directions from others in the interest of moving process and programs forward to the desired outcome.

Compensation will be commensurate to candidate experience.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Louisville is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. The University strives to provide equal employment opportunity on the basis of merit and without unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, sex, age, color, national origin, ethnicity, creed, religion, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, veteran status, marital status, or pregnancy. In accordance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Vietnam Era Veteran Readjustment Act of 1974, the University prohibits job discrimination of individuals with disabilities, Vietnam era veterans, qualified special disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, and other protected veterans. The University acknowledges its obligations to ensure affirmative steps are taken to ensure equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment. It is the policy of the University that no employee or applicant for employment be subject to unlawful discrimination in terms of recruitment, hiring, promotion, contract, contract renewal, tenure, compensation, benefits, and/or working conditions. No employee or applicant for employment is required to endorse or condemn a specific ideology, political viewpoint, or social viewpoint to be eligible for hiring, contract renewal, tenure, or promotion.

Consistent with applicable law, demographic information is collected for aggregate reporting requirements. Demographic information provided through this application is not available to hiring managers/committees and is not considered in hiring or employment decisions.

Assistance and Accommodations

Computers are available for application submission at the Human Resources Department located at 2315 South First Street Walk, Room 02C - Louisville, Kentucky 40292.

If you require assistance or accommodation with our online application process, please contact us by email at [email protected] or by phone 502-852-6258.