Job Description:
Primary Purpose
The Schulz Tryp lab at Harvey Mudd College is seeking a full-time research technologist. We are globally interested in how organisms adapt to different environments. Our study system is the African trypanosome parasite, which cycles between a tsetse fly vector and a mammalian host. In humans and animals, the parasite causes a fatal disease called African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness). The disease causes a large human and economic burden for people living in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the disease is endemic. In order to adapt itself from living in the bloodstream to living in the fly, the parasite must change the transcript levels of thousands of genes in the genome. We want to know more about the molecular mechanisms behind these changes. You can read more about our work at https://sites.google.com/a/g.hmc.edu/schulzlab/.
The expected dates of employment are June 1, 2021-August 30, 2022, although it’s possible this period could be extended. Continuation of the position is contingent upon continued and sufficient grant funding. Employment is subject to termination at any time.
This position provides technical lab support to faculty and students in a molecular parasitology research laboratory by performing a variety of routine and moderately complex laboratory and research-related responsibilities. The Laboratory Technician II works independently, reporting directly to the project PI. Molecular biology experiments include, but are not limited to, flow cytometry analysis, PCR, cloning, Cut&Run (similar to ChIP-seq), parasite genetic modification, and preparation of libraries for high-throughput sequencing.
Duties and Responsibilities
Essential functions
- Conducts experiments using current methods in molecular biology; assists PI in developing and evaluating methods, procedures and techniques used in experiments.
- Aids in the design of an undergraduate lab class around the PI’s research program.
- Prepares chemical reagents and solutions.
- Ensures the safe storage of biological and chemical materials.
- Sterilizes equipment, plasticware, and chemical reagents.
- Monitors inventories of expendable supplies (e.g., chemicals, reagents, plasticware, glassware) and advises PI or staff of reordering needs. May be responsible for ordering materials in consultation with PI and other staff.
- Assists PI with supervising and training research students in lab methods and procedures.
- Responsible for data entry, retrieval, and analysis on various Mac-type computers.
- Documents experimental work in clear and detailed laboratory notebook record.
- Assists in the proper collection and disposal of waste materials according to regulations and department policy.
- Participates in and contributes to a safe environment by keeping current with safety regulations, checking and maintaining equipment, orienting research students to the proper use of materials and equipment, and overseeing compliance with regulations.
- Performs research as needed.
- Performs other related duties as required.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Individuals must possess knowledge, skills and ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the position or be able to explain or demonstrate how the essential functions can be performed, with or without reasonable accommodation, using some other combination of skills and abilities.
- Ability to work independently and cooperatively.
- Proficiency with computer software, preferably python, R, and shell scripting.
- Good manual dexterity.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to use modern laboratory equipment in the general area of molecular biology.
- Ability to communicate, in English, with faculty members and students who are well versed in various scientific fields, primarily biology and bioinformatics.
- Knowledge of and ability in PCR, gel electrophoresis, and other routine molecular biology techniques.
- Knowledge of and ability in running and programming command-line pipelines in unix and python preferred.
- Knowledge of appropriate/applicable safety standards.
