Wisconsin Brain Donor Program Technician

The Wisconsin Brain Donor Program (WBDP) technician is a staff position in the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC) at UW Madison. The ADRC is a highly successful National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded research center focused on improving early detection of Alzheimer's Disease, identifying risk and protective factors, and finding ways to delay onset and progression. This position will report to the WBDP manager and will work in conjunction with faculty Neuropathology core leadership.
The brain donation program is part of the Neuropathology core, an important resource for Alzheimer's and related diseases research. This core collects, maintains, and distributes high-quality brain tissues and biological samples for research. This position will assist with the collection of tissues and samples during autopsies and will independently complete the day-to-day duties to maintain the core, under the direction and oversight of core leadership.
- The WBDP technician will assist during autopsies to recover brain tissue, prepare the tissue for sample storage, and complete associated paperwork.
- The WBDP technician will lead sample management duties such as cataloging, continuous storage oversight (fresh frozen tissue in -80C freezers and formalin fixed tissues), distribution, and managing records.
- This position will manage equipment and supplies, including freezer management.
- This position will complete quality control activities to ensure accuracy in recording tissue inventory records and high-quality tissues.
- Complete duties as requested including but not limited to: creating/editing/updating standard operating procedures, developing reports, managing and performing quality control reviews on data, representing the brain donation program at outreach events and other duties as delegated.
Freezer alarms and autopsies may occur 24/7/365 and brain donation staff will need to be available to receive pages regarding freezer alarms and potential brain donations and to complete autopsies during business hours, nights, weekends, and holidays. It is an expectation for the WBDP technician to cover pager, freezer, and recovery duties (including working hours, nights, weekends, and holidays).

• 45% Conducts research experiments according to established research protocols with moderate impact to the project(s). Collects data and monitors test results
• 10% Operates, cleans, and maintains organization of research equipment and research area. Tracks inventory levels and places replenishment orders
• 10% Reviews, analyzes, and interprets data and/or documents results for presentations and/or reporting to internal and external audiences
• 5% Participates in the development, interpretation, and implementation of research methodology and materials
• 5% Provides operational guidance on day-to-day activities of unit or program staff and/or student workers
• 5% Performs literature reviews and writes reports
• 15% Completes quality control activities to ensure accuracy in records and high-quality tissues
• 5% Covers the WBDP pager, freezer alarms and autopsy duties which will require availability to respond during working hours, nights, weekends, and holidays. Coordinates with other WBDP staff to ensure 24/7/365 coverage.

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Preferred
Bachelor's Degree
Degree in life sciences (such as biology, zoology, pathology, forensics, etc.) preferred

Required:
- Ability to work with deceased human bodies at autopsy and around blood and fresh, frozen, and fixed human tissue specimens
- Ability to communicate with patients and families with empathy and compassion
- Ability to work during business hours, nights, weekends, and holidays
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience handling human tissues in a wet-tissue laboratory or healthcare setting
- Experience with autopsy (animal or human) and/or handling fresh/frozen/fixed tissues and samples
An ideal candidate will:
- Complete projects in a timely manner, meet strict deadlines
- Be detail-oriented, organized, accurate, and thorough
- Enjoy learning new things and taking on new challenges
- Be self-driven and able to work independently
- Have experience or an interest in autopsies

Full Time: 100%
It is anticipated this position requires work be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location.

Ongoing/Renewable

Minimum $48,000 ANNUAL (12 months)
Depending on Qualifications
The starting salary for the position is $48,000 but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications. Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and sick leave; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. Benefits information can be found at (https://hr.wisc.edu/benefits/ ).

The selected applicant will be responsible for ensuring eligibility for employment in the United States on or before the effective date of the appointment. University sponsorship is not available for this position.
This position has been identified as a position of trust with access to vulnerable populations. The selected candidate will be required to pass an initial caregiver check to be eligible for employment under the Wisconsin Caregiver Law and every four years.

To apply for this position, please click on the "Apply Now" button. You will be asked to upload a current resume/CV and a cover letter briefly describing your qualifications and experience. You will also be asked to provide contact information for three (3) references, including your current/most recent supervisor during the application process. References will not be contacted without prior notice.

Nicole Smialek
[email protected]
608-265-3745
Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

Research Specialist(RE047)

A53-MEDICAL SCHOOL/MEDICINE/GER-AD DEV

Academic Staff-Renewable

291500-AS