Research Technician II - Mouse Model of Brain Stimulation Therapies

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A Brief Overview
This entry-level research technical role participates in a planned research projects by performing research protocols, experimental procedures and other laboratory tasks under direct supervision. May occasionally exercise minimal discretion and judgment in execution and interpretation of experiments, and of data derived.

Mouse Model of Brain Stimulation Therapies

Position Overview

Seeking a researchtechnicianto support basic neuroscience studies on the use of brain stimulation therapies for restoring function in mouse models of neuropsychiatric disease. This role is ideal for someone considering graduate school, MD/PhD or a neuroscience research career, but is interested in spending at least 2 years in a full-time research position.

The role will be full-time in person and will entail executing mouse research protocols and data analysis. The position requires someone who is highly attentive to detail, comfortable learning new hands-on-skills, and a proactive communicator. This role is best suited to high performers who are comfortable working independently in the lab - owning experimental workflows from generating experimental animals to collecting and analyzing data.

About the Role

The Goldberg Lab is an interdisciplinary group of neuroscientists studying the biology of seizures. This role is specifically to support projects related to the use of therapeutic seizure induction, also known as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), for treating epilepsy and behavioral deficits in mouse models of neuropsychiatric disease. This position sits at the interface ofin vivophysiology, advanced behavioral testing, and molecular neuroscience, and will directly contribute to publications and grant-funded projects

What You Will Do

Primary Responsibilities

• Assist in the husbandry, handling and care of laboratory mice
• Conduct stereotactic neurosurgery procedures in mice to prepare them for optical neuroimaging and brain stimulation
• Perform behavioral testing in mice
• Conduct experiments administering brain stimulation and inducing seizures in mice with concurrent optical neuroimaging of brain activity
• Maintain organized and complete datasets and laboratory notebook records
• Perform analysis using MatLab and Microsoft Excel of mouse data, including quantitative analysis, data visualization and preliminary figure generation.
• Maintaining reproducible and annotated code. Comfort with editing and executing analysis scripts.
• For particularly proficient coders, this role can also flex into helping with analysis of translational human clinical trial data of brain activity data during brain stimulation.
• Implementwet lab protocols and sample preparation for immunohistochemistry, single-cell transcriptomics, and other molecular biology tools
• Troubleshooting experiments, thinking critically about experimental protocols and analysis
• Performs routine tests / experiments under the direction of principal investigator, supervisor or other designee
• Performs research procedures on experimental samples as directed
• Records and checks experiments/ results for completeness and accuracy
• Performs calculations and maintains appropriate log and lab notebooks
• Performs tasks that require familiarity with fundamental techniques and lab equipment
• May assist with planning specific research protocols and procedures
• Maintains office, lab area, solutions, reagents, supplies and equipment, disposes of specimens, media and other materials (using appropriate procedures)
• Assists in care and maintenance of lab equipment
• May coordinate schedules of tests and procedures
• Attends courses, seminars, and lab meetings to expand knowledge of research and laboratory techniques
• Records results, organizes data and maintains lab notebook in an organized manner
• Compiles and helps analyze data, prepares charts, graphs, and results of studies as directed
• Conducts literary searches as directed

Facility Management

• Maintain mouse husbandryrooms
• Assist in care and maintenance of facility equipment
• Coordinate schedules of tests and procedures as needed

Professional Development

• Compile and analyze data, prepare charts, graphs, and results of studies as directed
• Conduct literature searches as directed
• Assist with planning specific research protocols and procedures
• Opportunity for co-authorship on research manuscripts generated from experiments

Education Qualifications

• High School Diploma / GED Required
• Associate's Degree Preferred
• Bachelor's Degree Preferred
• Preferred: Bachelor's Degree in Neuroscience, Biology, Psychology, or related field

Experience Qualifications

• At least one (1) year of related classroom experience or successful completion of a technical training program (eg. Wistar, WPSI) and research laboratory experience Required
• At least two (2) years of related classroom experience or successful completion of a technical training program (eg. Wistar, WPSI) and research laboratory experience Preferred
• At least 1 year of research laboratory experience(Preferred)
• Preferred:Specificexperience with neuroscience research, including behavioral testing, cranial window surgeries,in vivophysiology, and/or data analysis of dynamic time series

Skills and Abilities

Technical Skills

• Understanding and following written lab procedures, protocols, and equipment manuals
• Additional advantage: basic exposure to mouse behavioral experiments/techniques and scientific analysis (no allergy to rodents)
• Additional advantage: comfortable handling rodents and working with animal models
• Proficiency in data collection and organization methods using computer coding (e.g., Python, MATLAB, R Studio), including ability to read and edit code

Professional Competencies

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent organizational skills with ability to plan ahead
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Solid analytical skills
• Strong documentation and record-keeping abilities
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
• Responsiveness to constructive criticism

Personal Attributes

• Motivated to grow into a high-impact contributor to research projects.
• Excellence in teamwork, professionalism and collaborative research
• Articulate in written and verbal communication
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational capabilities

To carry out its mission, CHOP is committed to supporting the health of our patients, families, workforce, and global community. As a condition of employment, CHOP employees who work in patient care buildings or who have patient facing responsibilities must receive an annual influenza vaccine. Learn more.

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SALARY RANGE:

Salary ranges are shown for full-time jobs. If you're working part-time, your pay will be adjusted accordingly.

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