Research Technician - Comparative Pathobiology

The Department of Comparative Pathobiology (CPB) supports faculty and staff who teach, conduct research, and provide diagnostic services to the small and large animal hospitals as well as outside organizations. Educational areas of emphasis include Clinical Skills, Veterinary Anatomy, Veterinary Biochemistry, Organ Systems and Pathophysiology, and Veterinary Pathology. Research areas include reproductive biology, neuroscience, and biotechnology. Faculty provide anatomic and clinical pathology diagnostic services through the Cummings Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, which supports patient care
by the school's hospitals.

The Comparative Pathology and Genomics Shared Resources (CPGSR) is housed in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology (CPB). The Histology portion of the CPGSR includes an IntelliPath Autostainer, Leica Bond, Midi II Panoramic Fluorescence Slide Scanner, and a fully equipped histology lab. The Genomics portion of the CPGSR includes spatial profiling and analysis of RNA and DNA, (e.g., using Nanostring GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiler, Nanostring CosMx Spatial Molecular Imager, nCounter Max, Illumina NextSeq 2000, 10X chromium controller, Agilent tapestation and Biomek i7 liquid handling
system) Although the CPGSR is housed in CPB, the director of the Histology portion of the CPGSR, also supervisor for this role, has a primary appointment in the Department of Infectious Disease and Global Health and secondary appointment in CPB (Amanda Martinot).

This position will be in the Comparative Pathology and Genomics Shared Resource laboratory with a focus on histology laboratory support. It will involve a variety laboratory-related tasks under the general supervision of Dr. Amanda Martinot at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. The primary tasks include assisting with ongoing experiments submitted to the laboratory, which may include tissue trimming/processing/embedding, labeling of slides and cassettes (blocks), and performing slide staining (routine H&E, special stains, immunohistochemistry, and/or RNAScope). This position offers training in slide cutting and preparation (microtomy). Additional tasks include general lab maintenance, assisting with record keeping and ordering supplies, sample cataloging, and managing requests from internal and external users. The position will require substantial data recording and maintenance of lab records. The individual will be expected to take on new and/or additional duties as skills improve and/or as lab needs change. Individual will need to be comfortable with digital data record keeping.

Essential Functions in this role include:

• Histology project-related tasks, including labeling slides and cassettes, performing slide stains (routine, special stains, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization), performing QC of completed slides under direction of the CPGSR director or other anatomic pathologist, scanning completed slides, and packaging and shipping processed tissues and completed slides.
• Laboratory maintenance-related tasks, including ordering supplies, keeping updated supply inventory and laboratory records, performing routine maintenance of laboratory equipment, and communicating with external and internal users.
• Genomics project-related tasks, including RNA/DNA/protein isolation, PCR, NGS library preparation, and sample QC
• Digital data recording; processing request and creating quotes in iLabs; sample tracking (LIMS), digital data entry (Lab Archives)

Basic Requirements:

• Knowledge and experience as typically acquired by At least one year of laboratory experience performing bench techniques (molecular biology, microbiology, or immunology) and a Bachelor's Degree, preferably in biological sciences
• Basic computer skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Be highly motivated to learn new methods, well-organized, very careful and willing to accurately follow detailed instructions/protocols.
• No previous tissue processing, microtomy, or NGS library preparation experience is required, however the successful candidate will have previous experience in bench laboratory techniques (e.g. pipetting, PCR, reagent/solution preparation, dilutions, etc).