RESEARCH TECHNICIAN II

This Position is Grant Funded

School of Medicine

Established in 1930, Duke University School of Medicine is the youngest of the nation's top medical schools. Ranked sixth among medical schools in the nation, the School takes pride in being an inclusive community of outstanding learners, investigators, clinicians, and staff where interdisciplinary collaboration is embraced and great ideas accelerate translation of fundamental scientific discoveries to improve human health locally and around the globe. Composed of more than 2,600 faculty physicians and researchers, nearly 2,000 students, and more than 6,200 staff, the Duke University School of Medicine along with the Duke University School of Nursing, and Duke University Health System comprise Duke Health, a world-class academic medical center. The Health System encompasses Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, Duke Health Integrated Practice, Duke Primary Care, Duke Home Care and Hospice, Duke Health and Wellness, and multiple affiliations.

ENVIRONMENT:

The Duke Human Vaccine Institute (DHVI) is a multi-disciplinary research organization at Duke University focused on basic, translational and clinical research to develop novel vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics for infectious diseases that impact global health.  The Duke Regional Biocontainment Laboratory (RBL) is a division of the DHVI that supports a specific portfolio of research programs requiring enhanced biosafety and security.

The Duke RBL has three collaborative research units: Immunology, Virology, and Microbiology.  These units directly support resident DHVI/RBL faculty and are also available to support Duke faculty and their collaborators as fee-for-service shared resources, and each unit provides users with safety/security training, animal model support and use of the Duke RBL containment environment

The RBL Virology Unit is recruiting a Research Technician II to support a multi-disciplinary team developing medical countermeasures and vaccines against emerging and re-emerging biothreats.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• General laboratory maintenance including but not limited to:  waste processing, glassware cleaning, laboratory organization, preparation of solutions, ordering/preparation/stocking of consumables and reagents as needed, maintaining accurate inventory of refrigerator and freezer contents.
• Manage and complete assigned projects in accordance with standardized operating procedures and in full compliance with safety protocols.
• Perform virology, immunology, and serology assays as required for sample analysis of viral titer and cellular/humoral responses. Previous experience with mammalian cell culture preferred.
• Complete and maintain necessary documentation of research activities in real time according to standardized record-keeping procedures using written and electronic methods (i.e. electronic notebooks). Attention to detail is imperative.
• Independently schedule and prepare assays in advance with guidance from the manager.
• Collect and organize raw data into reports for interpretation and analysis.
• Perform additional duties as requested by direct supervisor, Virology Facility Manager, and Scientific/Administrative Directors.

The successful applicant must be eligible for and willing to:

• Complete external certification for independent work at BSL3 and ABSL3
• Work with infectious biological agents (viruses) handled at BSL2 and BSL3
• Comply with vaccination requirements, including seasonal influenza vaccine
• Complete Tier 1 Select Agent registration

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AT THIS LEVEL:

• Education/Training: Work generally requires a bachelor's degree in botany, biology, zoology, psychology or other directly related scientific field.
• Experience: None required above education/training requirement. OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE.

PREFERENCES:

• Previous virology, microbiology, or immunology research experience.

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.