Research Technician III, Cancer Center

Position Highlights

The position supports multiple aspects of in vivo experimentation and mouse colony management, including breeding and maintenance. The individual will perform hands-on routine and complex laboratory procedures while developing technical expertise in one or more areas relevant to ongoing research projects. This position is based in a laboratory within the University of Arizona Cancer Center (UACC), where research focuses on identifying clinically relevant drivers and suppressors of tumor growth and metastasis using genetically engineered mouse models and translating these discoveries into novel cancer therapies.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this positions.

Duties & Responsibilities

Laboratory Procedures

• Performs a variety of routine and complex experimental protocols and procedures related to routine molecular and cell biology techniques including, but not limited to western blotting, DNA/RNA preps, PCR, and cell culture, preparation of buffers and media, both mouse and human tissue processing.
• Maintain and monitor a mouse colony integrated by different mouse strains.
• Completes all aspects of more complex breeding with minimal supervision.
• Perform mouse tagging and genotyping, tumor inoculation, and mouse necropsy to collect tissue.
• Observes and complies with safety standards and procedures. Helps maintain the laboratory under regulatory compliance.

Protocol Design and Refinements

• With supervisor guidance, refines, adapts, and makes decisions to switch experiment parameters in response to situational demands of experiments.
• Assists in preparing experimental designs, technical protocols and techniques, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Record-keeping, Analysis, and Presentations

• Communicates effectively all aspects of experiments with PI or other laboratory staff.
• Keeps accurate and detailed records of experiments, results, and enters data in laboratory databases.
• Catalogs specimens and samples.
• Performs analysis and interpretation of data for investigator and prepares summary reports.
• Assists in preparation of data for publication and/or presentations at scholarly meetings.
• Assist in troubleshooting of unexpected technical obstacles.

Operational Support

• Orders and catalogs laboratory supplies and supports laboratory operations.
• Assist in maintaining laboratory equipment and related records.
• Coordinates use of lab equipment which is essential to completion of experiments.
• Orients lower-level research associates and undergraduate student researchers on day-to-day lab operations and routine procedures.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of mouse breeding schemas and implementation.
• Skills in vivo techniques for injections, measuring, and weighing.
• Ability to communicate effectively with different groups/individuals.
• Knowledge of cancer research.