Junior Specialist - Weber Lab

POSITION DESCRIPTION

• Research (90%) The Junior Specialist will plan and execute experiments involving mouse and jerboa tissue collection during key phases of vertebra formation. This will include animal husbandry, genotyping, tissue microdissection, tissue cryo- and paraffin sectioning, histological staining, immunostainings, and in situ hybridizations. In addition, the candidate is expected to review the scientific literature, and in conjunction with the Principal Investigator, formulate new hypotheses and design and conduct new experiments.
  
  The candidate is also expected to attend and present their work at lab and group research meetings, as well as help prepare figures and assist in writing manuscripts for publication.
• The Junior Specialist will be expected to assist in lab management, animal colony maintenance, and coordination of supplies needed for the successful day-to-day running of the lab. This will include keeping track of and ordering supplies, maintaining the lab space, and assisting with jerboa colony maintenance and husbandry. The candidate will also be involved in animal use protocol reporting and compliance, help ensure that safety regulations are met, and assist in training undergraduate and rotation students as appropriate.
• Professional Competence (5%) The Junior Specialist will have opportunities to participate in local and regional meetings and attend seminars as appropriate.
• University and Public Service (5%) The Junior Specialist will mentor undergraduate lab assistants working in the lab, and participate in laboratory, departmental, and group meetings, and other activities as applicable.

Bachelors of Science degree in molecular and cellular biology, developmental biology or a related field, with at least 3 months of previous lab experience. The ideal candidate will have: strong organizational skills, ability to prioritize responsibilities, interpersonal communication skills, decision-making skills and the ability to work independently as well as part of a team. Experience must include some molecular and/or tissue processing skills such as PCR, DNA extraction, plasmid preps or immunostaining and in situ hybridization.

The ideal candidate must be able to keep a complete and detailed laboratory notebook, be able to document data for publication and/or presentations and be willing to learn new skills.