Lab Technician-Luo Lab

Overview

Open Date 09/22/2025

Requisition Number PRN
43138B

Job Title Lab Technician

Working Title Lab Technician-Luo Lab

Career Progression Track C

Track Level

FLSA Code Nonexempt

Patient Sensitive Job Code? No

Standard Hours per Week 40

Full Time or Part Time? Full Time

Shift Day

Work Schedule Summary

TBD

VP Area Academic Affairs

Department 00116 - School of Biological Sciences

Location Campus

City Salt Lake City, UT

Type of Recruitment External Posting

Pay Rate Range $19 - 21.63

Close Date 12/22/2026

Priority Review Date (Note - Posting may close at any time)

Job Summary

The Luo Lab at The University of Utah is seeking a full-time Lab Technician to join our team investigating the neural circuits underlying decision-making and attention. We combine sophisticated behavioral paradigms in rats with large-scale in vivo electrophysiological recordings and causal circuit manipulations using optogenetics. The successful candidate will be an integral member of our research group, providing technical support for ongoing projects and contributing to the lab’s vibrant scientific environment.

Animal Behavior

• Handle and train rats on complex cognitive tasks.

• Design, build, and maintain custom behavioral rigs for rats, including integrating sensors, actuators, and control electronics.

• Use maker tools (e.g., CAD design and 3D printing) to prototype and refine rig components.

• Run daily behavioral sessions, meticulously collecting and organizing performance data.

Surgical Procedures

• Assist with and, following training, independently perform stereotaxic survival surgeries to implant microelectrode arrays and optic fibers.

• Perform diligent post-operative care and monitoring to ensure animal welfare.

Experiments

• Conduct in vivo electrophysiology recording sessions from multiple brain regions in behaving animals.

• Implement optogenetic protocols to precisely activate or inhibit neural populations during cognitive tasks.

• Troubleshoot experimental hardware and software setups.

Data Management & Analysis Support

• Assist with computational analysis by executing established data processing pipelines on newly collected datasets.

• Perform data quality control checks to ensure integrity before advanced analysis.

• Manage and curate large-scale neurophysiological and behavioral datasets, ensuring proper organization and documentation.

• Generate standardized figures and summary reports for lab meetings using existing scripts.

General Laboratory Support

• Accomplish day-to-day care and housekeeping of the laboratory.

• Maintain the rodent colony in accordance with all institutional and federal animal care guidelines.

• Manage lab inventory, order supplies, and maintain equipment.

• Prepare sterile surgical tools, solutions, and reagents.

• Keep detailed and accurate experimental records in an electronic laboratory notebook.

This job description is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.

Work Environment Nearly Continuously:
Office environment. Often:
Exposure to animals.

Physical Requirements Nearly Continuously:
Hearing, listening, talking. Often:
Repetitive hand motion (such as typing), walking, standing, sitting. Seldom:
Bending, reaching overhead.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, or other scientific disciplines in a related field or equivalency (one year of education can be substituted for two years of related work experience) required; knowledge of complex laboratory techniques, equipment, terminology, materials and substances. Skilled in the use of laboratory equipment, ability to create and analyze statistical calculations and prepare reports required; and demonstrated human relations and effective communication skills also required.

OSHA training and certification in animal care and use or the willingness to complete the certification may be required by some departments.

Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.

• A Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience,…