Technician I

Job Title

Technician I

Agency

Texas A&M University

Department

Vet Med Small Animal Medicine & Surgery

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

College Station, Texas

Job Type

Temporary/Casual Staff (Fixed Term)

Job Description

Our Commitment

Texas A&M University is committed to enriching the learning and working environment by promoting a culture that respects all perspectives, talents & lived experiences.  Embracing varying opinions and perspectives strengthens our core values which are: Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Selfless Service.

Who we are

The Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) is an institution that represents 100 years of growth from a small school of veterinary medicine in 1916 to its present role as a major veterinary educational, medical, and research center. Today, we are one of the largest schools of veterinary medicine in the United States, training nearly 600 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students each year. We support collaboration and teamwork that turns today's discoveries into proactive solutions for animals, humans, and the environment. Together, we strive to support the goals of the faculty, staff and students in teaching, research and outreach programs.  To learn more, please visit our website https://vetmed.tamu.edu/  

What we want

The Technician I, under general supervision, assists with the daily processing of biological samples from study participant dogs. Includes the aliquoting of serum and plasma, isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, organizing, tracking, and storing of samples, and preparing shipments of biospecimens to partner laboratories. Assists with metadata review and data entry and communicates with study participants and their veterinarians to obtain any missing data. All lab duties must follow strict safety and quality standards.

What you need to know

Compensation will be commensurate to selected hire’s experience.

Other Requirements and Factors: The position will involve handling laboratory chemicals, including Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and Methanol. This position is part-time with a work schedule of Monday – Friday, 1 pm to 5 pm.

The Dog Aging Project is an innovative research initiative that brings together a community of dogs, owners, veterinarians, researchers, and volunteers to carry out the most ambitious canine health study in the world. The Dog Aging Project team will follow tens of thousands of companion dogs for ten years or more in order to identify the biological, lifestyle, and environmental factors that maximize healthy longevity. We expect to gain insights that will increase our ability to prevent, diagnose, and treat age-related diseases, thereby helping our dogs, and by extension, ourselves, live longer, healthier lives.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of laboratory equipment, scientific apparatus, and computer equipment.

• Attention to detail.

• Able to multitask and work cooperatively with others.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in a clinical or biological research laboratory and/or experience working with veterinary medical professionals.

• Additional experience with common laboratory equipment, including use of an autoclave, centrifuge, and single channel pipettes.

• Experience using cloud-based laboratory information management systems and sample tracking databases.

Responsibilities:

• Perform Laboratory Procedures: Under general supervision, performs specific laboratory procedures of biospecimens, including isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, separation of plasma and serum, cryopreservation of cells and examination of cells using a microscope. Aliquots samples based on project specifications and will be responsible for maintaining specimen storage and chain of custody, following the laboratory procedures.

• Data Entry: Performs data entry of metadata collected at the time of collection of the biospecimens from the dog participant. Ensures the metadata entered matches the samples and observes any patterns of missing data or data discrepancies. Makes recommendations to the DAP team to improve the data collection methods as needed and may contribute to editing and reviewing relevant standard operating procedures.

• Observe Data Quality and Make Recommendations to Improve Quality: Observes patterns in sample kit collection and sample quality over time and communicates their observations to the Laboratory. In conjunction with the Laboratory Manager, makes recommendations to the DAP team to improve the quality and completeness of the biospecimens collected from dog participants. Performs other duties as assigned.

Instructions to Applicants: Applications received by Texas A&M University must either have all job application data entered or a resume attached. Failure to provide all job application data or a complete resume could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application. We encourage all applicants to upload a resume or use a LinkedIn profile to pre-populate the online application.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer.