RESEARCH TECHNICIAN III

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 2,500 faculty physicians and researchers, more than 1,300 students, and more than 6,000 staff, the Duke University School of Medicine along with the Duke University School of Nursing, Duke University Health System and the Private Diagnostic Clinic (PDC) comprise Duke Health. a world-class academic medical center. The Health System encompasses Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, Duke Primary Care, Duke Home and Hospice, Duke Health and Wellness, and multiple affiliations.

The department of Neurology is seeking a Research Technician III to join our interdisciplinary team focused on understanding brain plasticity mechanisms and how they lead to diseases involving the basal ganglia circuitry. This opportunity is for someone that enjoys driving discovery research forward, has relevant experience to contribute to current questions and is also skilled at planning and team management to achieve project goals.  There are multiple project opportunities depending on the background of the applicant ranging from proteomics to in vivo two-photon imaging of neural activity. Overarching questions investigate mechanisms of cholinergic neuromodulation and synaptic plasticity in basal ganglia and how the protein synthesis regulatory pathway (ISR) regulates these processes in health and disease. Our research questions aim to impact both foundational neurobiological principles and translational relevance for ISR-targeting therapeutic efforts that are underway.

As a Research Technician III, you will be expected to show a high level of proficiency and professionalism in the planning, execution, and interpretation of scientific experiments. You will be expected to be organized and capable of prioritizing and managing multiple responsibilities. You will be expected to be a role model for the lab. You will be expected to show the utmost ethical integrity and interpersonal skills. You will be expected to supervise others and foster an inclusive and respectful environment.

Responsibilities will be apportioned in the general categories approximately:

• Project execution and management.
• Project questions include in vivo circuit manipulations to examine consequences on neural activity and behavior; ex vivo slice physiology and immunohistochemistry; live imaging of novel protein synthesis reporters; and molecular genetic mouse brain approaches to cell specific proteomic analyses. Techniques relevant to this project are wide ranging. These may include cellular electrophysiology, two photon imaging of activity reporters (GCaMP, dLight) in vivo and ex vivo, iPSC culturing, cell and molecular biology techniques, immunohistochemistry, stereotaxic viral-injection/GRIN lens and/or cannulae placement brain surgeries and mouse behavior.
• Project leadership that includes coordinating the work of other technicians, students and/or undergraduates to achieve the goals of a larger grant effort, monitoring budget, preparing annual progress reports, preparing graphs for presentations and publications, and drafting manuscripts.
• Onboarding and training personnel on this project
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

Work generally requires skills acquired through the completion of a bachelor's degree in botany, biology, zoology, psychology or other science related scientific field program.

Work requires two years of research experience. A related master's OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE degree may offset required years of experience on a 1:1 basis, e.g., a two year master's degree in lieu of two years of experience.

Job Code: 00000691 RESEARCH TECHNICIAN III
Job Level: 10

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