Research Technician

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.

Be You.

Established in 1930, Duke University School of Medicine is the youngest of the nation’s top medical schools. Ranked tenth among its peers, the School takes pride in being an inclusive community of outstanding learners, investigators, clinicians, and staff where traditional barriers are low, interdisciplinary collaboration is embraced, and great ideas accelerate translation of fundamental scientific discoveries to improve human health locally and around the globe.

 

The Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology at Duke University School of Medicine is seeking a research technician with near-immediate availability. The position will be for one year to start with extensions contingent on availability of funding, performance, and needs of the lab.

 

This position will involve performing a variety of technical and research duties to support the laboratory of Dr. John Rawls (https://sites.duke.edu/rawlslab/). Dr. Rawls’ lab uses zebrafish, mice, and bacterial model systems to investigate mechanisms of host-microbiome interactions in the intestine, and their implications for digestive physiology, nutrition, metabolism, inflammation, and inter-organ communication.

 

Be Bold.

The successful candidate will have the demonstrated ability to perform, or be willing to learn, the following tasks in a research laboratory:

 

1. Weekly tasks managing mouse colony maintained by the Rawls Lab. This will include mouse manipulation, blood/fecal/tissue collection, strain maintenance and database management, DNA extraction, primer design, PCR, and gel electrophoresis. The candidate will be expected to document animal colony status in an organized, complete, and accurate fashion.

 

2. Daily tasks conducting research on zebrafish endocrinology. This will include zebrafish manipulation, blood and tissue collection, histology, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, microscopy, image analysis, RNA and protein extraction, ELISA, and Western blot. The candidate will be expected to document procedures and collect data in an organized, complete, and accurate fashion.

 

3. Ancillary laboratory maintenance tasks including the preparation of culture media, chemicals, reagents and solutions, using basic computer skills (Word, Excel, Powerpoint), attending weekly lab meetings, and clearly presenting and visualizing data as it pertains to experimental outcomes and colony maintenance.

 

4. Ancillary support tasks include assisting faculty, postdocs, students, and staff in the development and execution of new research procedures and techniques. This would include providing support for zebrafish and mouse experiments.

 

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Work generally requires a bachelor's degree in biology, genetics, molecular biology, anatomy, veterinary science, zoology, or other directly related scientific fields.

Experience:  At least one year of hands-on experience with mouse or zebrafish colony management, and/or mouse or zebrafish experiments. Successful applicants will have demonstrated capacity for working independently with support from colleagues and managers.

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.

 

 This position is: 

• Onsite. The work is performed on-site or at a designated assignment location.

 

Choose Duke.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Be part of a dynamic team committed to innovating in the fields of genomics, nutrition, and public health. Our lab offers a stimulating environment where your contributions will have a meaningful impact on scientific research and public health. We welcome applicants who are passionate about advancing genomic technologies and are ready to embark on a challenging and rewarding research career.