Research Lab Technician Senior

This posting is for a Research Technician Senior position in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Michigan. Our laboratory investigates cardiovascular inflammation and remodeling using murine models of myocardial infarction and heart failure. The successful candidate will join a collaborative research team focused on high-dimensional vascular and immune phenotyping, tissue harvesting and processing, and in vivo model management. The role demands consistent technical execution, strong organizational skills, and close attention to animal welfare across complex, multi-cohort experimental designs.

• Perform injections, blood collection, perfusions, and tissue harvest with high precision and consistency across repeated procedures to minimize experimental variability
• Process heart tissue, spleen, bone marrow, and other organs using standardized cell isolation protocols
• Maintain detailed records of mice cohorts.
• Monitor animal health with strong situational awareness, recognizing subtle changes in posture, breathing, or behavior, and escalating concerns promptly
• Prepare samples for downstream analyses including flow cytometry, histology, sequencing, and proteomics.
• Follow and help maintain standardized laboratory protocols for perfusion, tissue digestion, blood collection, and related procedures
• Prepare reagents and organize surgical instruments in advance of harvest days to support efficient, error-free processing of large cohorts
• Communicate clearly and immediately about problems, uncertainty, or deviations from expected outcomes
• Maintain a well-organized inventory of laboratory materials and place order requests with the Internal Medicine Purchasing team
• Attend scheduled laboratory meetings and contribute to discussions of experimental design and troubleshooting
• Analyze data for publications under the direction of the PI
• Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree in a biological or health science discipline, with an advanced degree or additional training preferred
• Previous experience in a bench science research laboratory is required
• Demonstrated ability to perform repeated procedures (such as injections, tissue harvest, or sample processing) with precision and consistency
• Experience with phenotyping animal models, RNA and protein extraction protocols, cell culture, and molecular biology techniques (e.g. quantitative PCR, next-generation sequencing)
• Ability to maintain detailed, accurate records of experiments and mouse cohorts across multiple concurrent studies
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to report problems or uncertainty promptly
• Comfort with online project management tools and communication platforms
• Flexibility to conduct experiments over some weekends as needed
• Understands and demonstrates the core concepts of Patient and Family Centered Care, including Respect and Dignity, Information Sharing, Participation, and Team Collaboration

Preferred Qualifications

• A background in immunology and/or vascular biology
• Experience with organ processing and cell isolation from murine models, particularly heart, spleen, vascular tissues, and bone marrow
• Demonstrated commitment to continuous skill development, including willingness to take on advanced responsibilities such as managing large cohorts, training new staff, or preparing samples for sophisticated analyses
• Familiarity and openness toward project management tools and communication platforms