Advertising Summary: Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine is a premier academic medical center located in the heart of Richmond. Accounting for almost half of VCU’s sponsored research, the School of Medicine is internationally recognized for patient care and education. Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity employer.

Unit: School Of Medicine MBU

Department: Neuroscience & Anatomy

Department Summary: In the Department of Neuroscience & Anatomy, research is one of our core tenets. With traditions anchored in the anatomical disciplines, our identity has evolved to reside in modern neuroscience, where our dedicated faculty and students engage in state-of-the-art research and scholarly activity with clinical translation potential in conditions ranging from anxiety to epilepsy to Alzheimer’s.

With labs and grant-funded projects led by our full-time department faculty and affiliate faculty in other academic units across VCU, we’re proud to contribute to the field by conducting innovative research the following focus areas: Central Nervous System Circuit Function, Central Nervous System Injury and Repair, Educational scholarship and Practice, Glial Cell Biology, and Molecular Mechanisms of Neuropsychiatric Disorders.

Duties & Responsibilities:

The Department of Neuroscience and Anatomy has an opportunity to conduct cutting edge experiments in the field of neuroscience. This will include involvement in projects exploring physiological effects and potential treatments of traumatic brain injury. The Lab/Research Technician will maintain a mouse breeding colony and help to conduct experiments and maintain laboratory. Experience with animal surgeries desired. Duties will include surgeries to implant EEG electrodes, conducting electrophysiological recordings, including field potentials from live brain slices. The Lab/Research Technician will participate in immunohistochemical experiments and utilize confocal microscopy and image analysis tools to evaluate neuronal morphologies and staining patterns.

Core Responsibilities: 

1. Breeding and maintaining transgenic mouse colonies

   • Maintaining the proper numbers of animals needed for all lab workers to conduct experiments; Proper breeding (based on genotype) of mice to generate animals for use in experiments; Maintenance of records that show all aspects of animal care, use and breeding, with mlims software; Performing surgery to create experimental animals for studies in epilepsy and neurotrauma; Observations by the animal care and use committee are passed
2. Animal surgeries, including creating animal models of TBI, and EEG electrode implantation and recordings
   • Effective creation of animal model in mild injury range, as measured by righting reflex and survival; Effective implantation of EEG electrodes that can be maintained for many weeks with clean recordings; Surgeries denoted as properly sterile by committee oversight observations

3. Electrophysiological recordings, including field potentials and whole cell patch clamp

   • Maintain laboratory solutions, including artificial cerebrospinal fluid; Prepare live brain slices; Field potential recordings from cortical regions; Whole cell patch clamp recordings from single cells; Optical activation of specific cell types based on mouse breeding (optogenetics); Labeling of recorded cell; Data analysis of recordings; Graphical demonstrations of analysis; Written summary of methods and results
4. Immunohistochemistry, histology and microscopy
   • Cardial perfusion of rodents and preparation of the brain for immunohistochemistry; Vibratome sectioning of the brain tissue; Immunohistochemical staining of brain sections to reveal antigens, with triple labeling in each section; Use of the confocal microscope to take appropriately located images for data analysis; Analysis of number of cells and staining intensity of cells or structures in ImageJ; Determining the best protocol and procedures for obtaining proper immunohistochemical labeling with antibodies new to the lab
5. Hosting safety and IACUC inspectors, adherence to national, state, university and laboratory guidelines, maintenance of lab, supplies, and equipment
   • Inspections preparations are performed well before the inspection date, such that there are expected to be no issues with the inspection outcome; All supplies used by the laboratory must be kept in stock within the lab; Purchasing of items is done in a manner consistent with the funds available, and with proper records; Credit card statements and logs are reconciled and submitted to the business office with the proper timing; Inventories of chemicals and reagents are maintained and available to all researchers; Chemicals are properly stored; Bench tops and equipment are kept clean and free of chemical debris; Preparation of standard lab solutions for experiments is performed on a weekly basis

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree
• Ability to learn new software programs quickly and to adjust schedule to demands of experiment required

• Ability to perform duties independently after training is required

• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU

Preferred Qualifications

• Laboratory and/or animal handling experience preferred
• Knowledge and/or experience with the following preferred: breeding rodents, rodent surgeries, EEG electrode implantation and recording, proper methodology for making molar solutions, performing immunohistochemical studies, performing electrophysiological recordings, and using advanced microscope techniques
• Proficiency with Excel, Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Powerpoint, and EndNote preferred

Salary Range: $43,000-$52,000

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status: Non-Exempt

Hours per Week: 40

Restricted Position: Yes

ORP Eligible: No

Flexible Work Arrangement: Fully Onsite

University Job Title: 34051-3 - Lab/Research Technician 1-3

Contact Information:

Contact Email: SOMHR@vcuhealth.org