Research Technician

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Job Summary

Studies of small molecule DNA repair inhibitors for use in chemotherapy. This project involves hit-to-lead development of a new class of DNA repair inhibitors. Novel chemical compounds will be screened biochemically for potency and specificity and physiologically for synthetic lethality with various tumor models and on target functions. This will constitute a unique training opportunity in an exciting academic setting but provide possibilities not only for further work in academia by for introduction into the biotechnology industry. This position is based in a laboratory within the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering but will work on biological problems across Divisions.

Essential Job Duties

• DNA preparation, primer design, cloning, PCR, RT-PCR.
• Human tissue cell culture-mycoplasma monitoring, maintaining cell line collection, freezing, thawing, cataloging cell lines.
• Transfection and siRNA and shRNA knockdowns.
• Cell viability assays.
• Biochemical assays of enzymes that function in DNA repair or replication.
• Protein expression and purification.
• Data analysis, statistical analysis.
• Use of NCBI, PubMed, BLAST, GenBank; Protein Data Base.
• Project management: Planning, record keeping, lab management, and ordering.

Basic Qualifications

• B.S. degree and at least 4 years of experience in quantitative molecular biology and cell biology in an academic research lab or in the pharmaceutical industry.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently in execution of experiments, analysis of results, and design of follow-up experiments.
• Experience in project management.
• Familiarity with spectrophotometer, scintillation counter, Phosphorimager (Image J, ImageQuant), FPLC, plate readers, Gel doc systems, LI-COR imaging.
• Fluency in Word, Excel, GraphPad Prism, PowerPoint.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD or PhD level experience in academia or in the biotechnology industry.
• General techniques: Handling DNA and RNA, protein and nucleic acid electrophoresis; Western blotting; Immunoprecipitation, extract preparation, quantitative enzyme assays (nuclease, polymerase, helicase, topoisomerase or other kinetic analyses), transfection and transformation; light microscopy.
• Special techniques (previous experience appreciated but training provided where required): site-directed mutagenesis, Immunofluorescence, immunoprecipitation, affinity purification, protein expression and purification, cell visibility assays; techniques for monitoring DNA replication and recombination, non-B DNA structures, and telomeres.
• Background knowledge in the field of DNA repair, replication or recombination appreciated but not required.
• Background knowledge in cancer research preferred but not required.
• Ability to teach techniques to others.

Required Documents

• Resume with publication list.