Entry Research Services Professional

Job Summary

The School of Dental Medicine is seeking a full-time entry level Research Services Professional to join a research laboratory within the Department of Craniofacial, Oral and Materials Sciences. The successful candidate will be key contributor to supporting projects developing new dental materials and prosthetics with unique antimicrobial and antifungal characteristics that are expected to directly improve oral health. The multi-disciplinary research team consists of both basic science and clinical faculty poised to take advantage of novel technologies being developed at the Anschutz Medical Campus.

This position will involve synthesis of monomers and polymers, analytical characterization of those materials and the formulation, polymerization and detailed evaluation of the polymeric materials developed in the lab. The laboratory-based research work includes assisting with the development and evaluation of robust, high-performance photocurable polymeric materials for a variety of applications including as biomaterials and 3D printing compositions. The position will also involve making bacterial culture media, culturing bacteria and quantifying bacteria.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare lab for daily operations, including stocking materials, equipment, safety, cleanliness, and related areas.
• Perform formulation and well-controlled photopolymerization studies involving physically reinforced covalent network polymers with testing.
• Comparisons between bulk photo-molded and 3D printed formulations along with determination of material-specific post-curing protocols.
• Creation and sterilization of bacterial culture media.
• Culturing BSL2 organisms in sterile media and quantifying their growth.
• Assist in the preparation of reports and presentations based on the laboratory research work.
• Utilize a variety of laboratory techniques required for research projects and prepare common solutions and stocks.
• Perform experiments and tabulate and analyze research, including viscosity measurement, real-time conversion kinetic determination and a wide range mechanical property characterization.
• Support laboratory research including preserving samples, completing sample preparation, documenting and communicating results in weekly lab meetings.

Work Location

Onsite – this role is expected to work onsite and is located in Aurora, CO.