Lead Research Technician, Gastrointestinal and Rheumatology

Job Summary:

The lead research technician assists Gastrointestinal and Rheumatology team personnel in coordinating efforts on the day-to-day operations of active studies. S/he assists Study Directors and Study Coordinators in accurately and efficiently conducting animal studies and supervises the in-life study execution, clinical observations, and treatments to ensure compliance with policies and procedures. S/he also provides leadership, training, and technical oversight to more junior technicians.

• Directly works with the Gastrointestinal and Rheumatology group to conduct required study activities.
• Assists in disease induction procedures.
• Assist with the preparation and execution of necropsies, tissue collection (terminal and interim) and surgeries for gastrointestinal and rheumatology studies.
• Review facility schedules, dose formulation calculations, cage cards, spreadsheets, and study protocols for consistency and accuracy before the first dose event.
• Independently perform tissue collections, dosing, and necropsies after training with PI.
• Read and understand and assist with development of IACUC protocols, SOPs, and all study protocols, demonstrating familiarity with critical time points.
• Perform critical data collections for gastrointestinal and rheumatology studies, including weighing, clinical observations, health assessments, post operative monitoring, and disease progression scoring.
• Administer doses of compounds to rats and mice via common dosing routes, including but not limited to oral, intravenous, intrarectal, subcutaneous, and intraperitoneal injection.
• Perform blood collections from rats and mice via tail vein, jugular, submandibular, retro-orbital, and terminal blood draws and process these samples via centrifugation for plasma and/or serum.
• Review live phase data on all active studies for consistency and accuracy.
• Assist in formulating experimental compounds for administration.
• Use of general laboratory equipment, including but not limited to balances, syringes and needles, blood collection tubes, centrifuges, pipettes, formalin collection jars, liquid nitrogen,
  -80°C freezers, incubators, fluid/syringe pumps, chemical and clean hoods, PPE (lab coat, gloves, face mask or respirator, shoe covers, hair nets, eye protection), quarantine/isolation rooms, autoclaves, and necropsy hand tools.

• Assist Study Directors and Study Coordinators to ensure study protocol, schedules, formulations, and sample collections are correct and properly communicated to the research team.
• Assists Study Coordinators with the creation or verification of cage cards, sample collection prep labels, and data files.
• Maintain study-related forms (e.g. data sheets, health assessments, found dead forms, and moribund forms)
• Keep laboratory clean and maintain inventory of all team supplies (e.g. media, plates, reagents, surgical tools, etc.) and study-specific test articles.
• Support and participate in other duties and company initiatives as directed.
• Utilize various software applications sustained by a Windows platform. (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.)

• Demonstrates a working knowledge and awareness of general laboratory procedures.
• Demonstrates an ability to follow detailed instructions, work independently, and in a team environment.
• Demonstrates an ability to use a computer software to compile and maintain study data and reports for study records and sample inventory.
• Demonstrates a positive attitude and respect for co-workers, managers, and other employees.
• Exhibits a basic understanding of GLP, AAALAC, OLAW, USDA, OHS, PHS, The Guide, and IACUC regulations and standards with consistent application of these practices.
• Exhibits accuracy performing laboratory operations.
• Exhibits an aptitude for quality, an eye for detail, the ability to follow written instructions and work with a minimum of supervision.
• Exhibits good written and oral communication skills and suitable organization skills.
• Maintains a commitment to adhere to all safety regulations and procedures.

M.S./B.S./B.A. in science (biology or equivalent; immunology preferred) with 1-3 years of…