Research Technician II - Alzheimer's disease

A full-time technician position is available in the Jankowsky Lab at the Baylor College of Medicine Department of Neuroscience.  The Jankowsky laboratory studies helps to decipher the cause of a devastating disease, develop new ways to study it at the bench, and discover new treatments that might one day slow the tide of Alzheimer's.  The lab is seeking a smart and dedicated research technician to help tackle incurable neurological diseases through basic research. The team designs new mouse models for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and frontotemporal dementia using cutting edge genetic strategies, then the lab uses their models to ask how these diseases arise and explore creative new treatment ideas. The technician has excellent organizational skills and a basic understanding of neuroscience; in return, the lab will provide training in all of the required techniques and offer a supportive working environment.

To learn more about the Joanna Jankowsky Lab, please visit:  https://www.bcm.edu/research/labs-and-centers/faculty-labs/joanna-jankowsky-lab

Why consider the Jankowsky lab?
•  Great training environment - highly collaborative team eager to share what they've learned.
•  Supportive advisor, focused on your professional development.
•  Learn cutting-edge genetic engineering along with basic molecular biology techniques.
•  Chance to attend seminars, audit graduate classes.
•  Room to grow, clear path for promotion.

• Oversees and maintains a challenging mix of mouse lines.  Performs weekly tasks include breeding, weaning, and euthanasia, but the bigger responsibility is keeping our complex mouse colonies organized, productive, and well-documented.  
• Works with other lab members to ensure they breed the right mice in the right numbers to do our science.
• Takes charge of weekly toe biopsies that help to identify and record every new animal generated for study. 
• Takes pride in careful, robust PCR genotyping used to determine the genetic inheritance of each animal they breed.
• Maintains precise, legible, and accurate biopsy, breeding, and genotyping records for the laboratory.
• Works with vivarium staff, veterinary technicians, and lab members to support top-notch care and humane treatment for all of our animals.
• Oversees lab inventory, ensures the lab has what's needed, and that folks know where to find it, so that can all keep moving the research forward.
• Participates in experiments as much or as little as per interests and time allow, to include harvesting and processing brain tissue, tissue staining, data analysis.

• Bachelor's degree in a Basic Science or related field. Four years of related experience may substitute for degree requirement.
• No experience required.

• Has confidence handling mice or rats in a research setting.
• Experience maintaining genetically engineered animal strains.
• Be comfortable with basic molecular biology techniques such as PCR. 
• Be self-motivated with outstanding organizational skills, excellent record keeping, and careful attention to detail.
• Has the ability to work well with others - and be good team player.

Baylor College of Medicine is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Equal Access Employer.

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