"Research Laboratory Technician"

A research position is available at the University of Michigan in the Muscle Biology Laboratory to identify the mechanisms whereby exercise improves insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in rat skeletal muscle. The successful applicant will provide technical support for research on this topic in the Muscle Biology Laboratory. The successful applicant will be working under the guidance of the PI (Greg Cartee, PhD) and other experienced researchers. The goal is to use physiological, biochemical, molecular, and cellular approaches to test specific hypotheses about the mechanisms accounting for exercise and diet effects on signaling and glucose uptake in rat skeletal muscle.

The individual will perform specific and crucial components of a larger research project under the supervision of the PI and often in collaboration with other lab members. The individual will be performing procedures with research animals (rats). Procedures will include performance of diet and exercise protocols with research animals, performing surgical procedures on research animals, and performing analysis of biological samples (rat skeletal muscle and other tissues). Laboratory procedures will include, but not be limited to, diet and/or exercise treatments with rats, assisting with ex vivo incubation of tissues, tissue sample processing, western blotting, spectrophotometric protein assays, and glucose uptake assays using radioisotopes. The successful applicant will need to maintain research databases and perform basic statistical analyses of data.

The items below summarize the approximate amount of time for various responsibilities which are essential functions for this position:

• 30% - Performing research on animals (rats), including performing and monitoring animal recovery after minor surgeries, monitoring animals during exercise protocols, monitoring food intake, tissue dissections.
• 25% - Assisting with ex vivo tissue incubation procedures: transferring tissues (muscles) into vials containing solutions and radioisotopes (3H and/or 14C).
• 30% - Biological and biochemical analyses: including, making solutions, weighing and processing samples, performing SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, spectrophotometric assays (e.g., protein, glycogen), performing western blotting, image quantitation using image analysis software.
• 5% - Assisting with lab organization.
• 5% - Data management and analysis: assisting with data entry, performing statistical analysis using statistical software, assisting with making figures, attending and participating in lab meetings.
• 5% - Assisting with research regulatory processes for biological, chemical and radiation safety.

Requirements:

• B.S. degree or equivalent in a biological science (including Movement Science or Exercise Science).
• At least 1-3 years of experience working in a biological research lab is required.
• Experience performing research using rodents is required.
• The candidate must be honest, dependable, and highly motivated.
• Attention to detail is essential.
• The potential for technical skill in the lab is necessary.
• Willingness and ability to perform research using rodent research models is required.
• Willingness to perform research using radioisotopes (3H and 14C) is required.
• The individual must be willing and able to learn new methods as needed.
• The ability to work effectively under supervision as part of a research team is essential.
• Must have proven success with contributing to a positive workplace culture, and ability to consistently demonstrate our school's core values.

Preferred:

• Experience and proficiency performing: surgeries on rodents; western blots; assisting in research lab regulatory record-keeping (e.g., chemical, biological, or radiation safety).