Job Description

Summary
Our laboratory in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan is seeking a motivated and enthusiastic research technician to study mechanistic aspects of RNA virus infection, specifically dengue virus (DENV) and Zika virus (ZIKV). Both viruses are significant threats to human health globally. DENV is the most common human arboviral infection worldwide, causing an estimated 390 million acute infections, 500,000 hospitalizations, and 25,000 deaths each year. Like DENV, ZIKV has spread rapidly across the Americas, Africa, and Asia. My laboratory is interested in the cell biology of infection by these viruses. Specifically, we are trying to understand, at the cellular and molecular level, how these viruses hijack cells for infection and in turn, how we can interrupt viral infection by targeting this process. The laboratory has also been engaged in some research with SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) in the BSL-3 biosafety containment area at the University of Michigan.

Mission Statement
Michigan Medicine improves the health of patients, populations and communities through excellence in education, patient care, community service, research and technology development, and through leadership activities in Michigan, nationally and internationally. Our mission is guided by our Strategic Principles and has three critical components; patient care, education and research that together enhance our contribution to society.

Why Join Michigan Medicine?
Michigan Medicine is one of the largest health care complexes in the world and has been the site of many groundbreaking medical and technological advancements since the opening of the U-M Medical School in 1850. Michigan Medicine is comprised of over 30,000 employees and our vision is to attract, inspire, and develop outstanding people in medicine, sciences, and healthcare to become one of the world’s most distinguished academic health systems. In some way, great or small, every person here helps to advance this world-class institution. Work at Michigan Medicine and become a victor for the greater good.

What Benefits can you Look Forward to?

Excellent medical, dental and vision coverage effective on your very first day
2:1 Match on retirement savings
Responsibilities*
Research

Assists in research using cell culture models of RNA virus infection by performing assays, recording observations and measurements, and operating laboratory equipment
Performs routine experimental procedures under the supervision of higher-level research staff member or principal investigator.
Contributes to manuscripts for publication with the opportunity for coauthorship if appropriate
If the candidate desires, there will be the option of becoming trained to work with SARS-CoV-2 at BSL-3 containment, but this is not a required responsibility. Work with SARS-CoV-2 is not expected to take up more than 25% of work hours.
Laboratory management

Organizes laboratory inventories (e.g. plasmids, cell lines, antibodies, viral stocks)
Keeps track of commonly used items and ordering supplies for the laboratory
Maintains overall laboratory organization and cleanliness.
Writes, revises, and implements standard operating procedures for laboratory equipment, chemicals and research protocols with supervision from higher-level research staff member or principal investigator
Required Qualifications*
Research Lab Tech Associate:

High School diploma or Assoc. degree and 0-1 year of basic science lab research experience in one or more of the following areas: molecular biology, cell biology, and/or virology
Research Lab Tech Intermediate:

High School diploma or Assoc. degree and 1-3 years of basic science lab research experience in one or more of the following areas: molecular biology, cell biology, and/or virology
Both:

Is organized and attentive to details
Prioritizes laboratory safety and scientific rigor
Keeps accurate and complete records of experiments
Works independently and with others as the situation requires
Possesses excellent oral and written communication skills in English
Desired Qualifications*
Specific experience in any or all of the following research techniques:

Bachelors degree in microbiology, molecular biology, cell biology, or a similar field
Microscopy (immunofluorescence, confocal microscopy)
Protein expression in cultured cells by transient transfection and lentiviral transduction
Virology (virus culture and titration)
Molecular biology (DNA subcloning, PCR, qRT-PCR)
Protein analysis (immunoprecipitation, SDS-PAGE, immunoblotting)