Research Technician

Research Technician

Caltech
Job Category: Fulltime Regular
Exempt Overtime Eligible: Overtime Eligible
Benefits Eligible: Benefit Based

Caltech is a world-renowned science and engineering institute that marshals some of the world's brightest minds and most innovative tools to address fundamental scientific questions. We thrive on finding and cultivating talented people who are passionate about what they do. Join us and be a part of the diverse Caltech community.

Job Summary

Oversee lab operations for the Parker lab at Caltech and provide defined technical services to support lab projects.

Essential Job Duties

Lab operations:

• Order and maintain lab equipment and reagents.
• Manage lab expenditures.
• New lab member orientation.
• Lab safety coordination.
• Lab event coordination.
• Coordinate lab orderliness (including delegation of tasks to other lab members).

Technical support:

• Molecular biology methods (DNA/RNA extraction, PCR, cloning, cDNA synthesis).
• Screening and husbandry of transgenic and mutant rove beetles to establish stable genetically modified lines.
• Maintenance of genetically modified beetles.
• Care, troubleshooting, and technical support for large-scale ant colonies.
• Work with postdocs and students to facilitate projects using beetle and ant cultures.

Basic Qualifications

• BS in a biology-related field.
• Experience in conducting biological research.
• 1 year of experience working with insect model systems.
• Hands-on experience working with small insect husbandry (ant colonies and beetles).
• Technical competence to work with small insect molecular biology and gene manipulation.
• Experience with molecular biology techniques, including DNA/RNA extractions; PCR; qPCR.
• Knowledge of functional genetics methods (e.g. CRISPR/CAS9; transgenesis).
• Knowledge of model organism biology.
• Familiarity with laboratory operations.
• Technical competence to provide support for laboratory projects in the form of ordering supplies, maintaining lab stocks, and coordinating with vendors and companies to maintain equipment and instrumentation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate-level coursework in insect biology.
• Experience ordering laboratory supplies and managing lab resources and instrumentation.
• Experience working in a molecular/genetics laboratory.
• Experience with invertebrate/insect husbandry.
• Experience with gene editing/manipulation techniques.
• Nucleic acid work.
• Interest in evolution and insect biology.

Required Documents

• Resume