Laboratory Research Technician
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Laboratory Research Technician
Department of Pathobiology
The Department of Pathobiology within the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign is seeking a Laboratory Research Technician to support animal and molecular research in the laboratory of Dr. Christopher Gaulke.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Zebrafish husbandry and animal care
- Supports original microbiome research under the guidance of the principal investigator
- Assists in day-to-day operations including inventorying, ordering and regulatory and safety compliance
- Records, analyzes, organizes, and presents experimental results
- Trains new staff and students
Additional Physical Demands
• Persons allergic to animal dander, dust, pollen, hay, etc. may experience discomfort due to the location of this position in the College of Veterinary Medicine.• Regularly required to sit, stand, move from one area to another, and reach with arms and hands including in a warm aquarium environment.
• Regularly lifts, moves, and/or carries objects weighing up to 50 pounds
• Occasionally stoops and bends
• Regularly required to type at a computer.
• Work is performed in a both a research animal facility and molecular lab where personnel are exposed to laboratory animal caging, sounds, and smells of various species including, but not limited to mice, rats, and aquatic species. Personnel may be exposed to wet, above average temperatures, and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and biohazard materials.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate and occasionally high.
• Regular use of ladders to perform equipment maintenance and calibration.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Fisheries, Biology, or a related field. Six months laboratory experience, experience preforming standard laboratory techniques (e.g., PCR, aseptic technique, etc.), foundational knowledge of statistics, experience working with model organisms.
Preferred Qualifications
Two years of aquaculture experience, experience working with zebrafish and mice, practical knowledge of plumbing, command line proficiency, familiarity with one or more scripting languages (e.g., Perl, python, etc.), proficiency in R, experience with immunohistochemistry and confocal imaging, proficient in molecular cloning, experience analyzing microbiome data, experience analyzing large multiomic datasets.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Excellent time management.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Capacity to work alone and with others.
- Ability to trouble-shoot technical issues.
- Ability to plan and prioritize work while responding flexibly to rapidly changing priorities.
- Demonstrated organizational skills and ability to pay close attention to detail.
- Motivation to learn and grow in scientific expertise.
- Ability to identify changes in an animal’s behavior or health and provide basic prescribed treatments.
- Enthusiastic and self-motivated individual, with the ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
- Ability to learn tasks quickly.
- Excellent skills in Microsoft Office and/or Google Docs.
- Ability to balance multiple requests and assignments and the ability to make and meet commitments.
- Demonstrated ability to work in a collaborative, rapidly changing environment to accomplish mutual goals.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to deal effectively with research scientists, laboratory technical staff, administrative staff, management, outside contractors, and vendors.
- Ability to work flexible hours.
- Ability to commit to two years due to a substantial training effort associated with the position.
Appointment Information
This is a 100% full-time Academic Professional position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after the close of the search. The budgeted annual salary range for the position is $50,000 to $65,000. Final salary offered will be determined by a thorough assessment of available market data, internal salary equity, candidate experience and qualifications, collective bargaining agreements, and budget constraints. Sponsorship for work authorization is not available for this position. The University of Illinois offers a complete benefits package. A summary explanation of these benefits can be found at https://www.hr.uillinois.edu/benefits.
Personal opportunities:
The cities of Urbana and Champaign offer the residential advantages of a medium-sized university city, excellent cultural opportunities, and a high quality of life. In 2010, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign was ranked in the top four research universities by the Harvard University’s Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education in balancing work and home. The practice area is expansive with numerous opportunities for living accommodations located centrally within the practice range. In 2024 Forbes ranked the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as #13 among all US public colleges, on the basis of return on investment, student success, student debt, and alumni
Application Procedures & Deadline Information
Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (Central Time) on Friday, February 21. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. For further information about this specific position, please contact Christopher Gaulke at cgaulke@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.
The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.
Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal, or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing accessibility@illinois.edu.
Requisition ID: 1028900
Job Category: Research
Apply at: https://jobs.illinois.edu