Research Technician
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Job Info

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Department:

Psychology and Neuroscience-319100

Career Area:

Research Professionals

Is this an internal only recruitment?:

No

Posting Open Date :

11/26/2024

Application Deadline:

12/10/2024

Position Type:

Permanent Staff (SHRA)

Position Title:

Research Technician - Advanced

Salary Grade Equivalent:

GN09

Working Title:

Research Technician

Position Number:

20068301

Vacancy ID:

P019895

Full-time/Part-time Permanent/Time-Limited:

Full-Time Time-Limited

Hours per week:

40

Work Schedule:

40 hr per week, Mon-Fri

Work Location:

CHAPEL HILL, NC

Position Location:

North Carolina, US

Hiring Range:

$34,320 - $55,000

Pay Band Information:

To learn more about the pay band for this branch and role, please see the Career Banding rates spreadsheet.

Be a Tar Heel!:

A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation's top public universities. Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.

One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package, paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance.

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit:

The primary purpose of the Psychology and Neuroscience Department is to provide excellent education, research and service in the field. This goal breaks down into four important components: 1) to teach psychology and neuroscience to undergraduates in a manner that will introduce them vigorously to its broad scope; 2) to offer scientific and professional training to graduate students in the areas of behavioral and integrative neuroscience, clinical, cognitive, developmental, quantitative, and social psychology; 3) to carry out cutting-edge research in these areas, and 4) to provide consulting and administrative support services to the science and profession of psychology as well as to the university, the community, the state, and the nation.

The Department consists of six programs: behavioral and integrative neuroscience; clinical psychology; cognitive psychology; developmental psychology; quantitative psychology, and social psychology. Each program is designed to acquaint the student thoroughly with the theoretical and research content of the specialty and to provide training in the research skills needed to become a competent and creative investigator. In addition, the programs focus on the development of appropriate professional skills.

The Department of Psychology and Neuroscience ranks 2nd in the College in grant funding with over $12 million annually in grant expenditures and approximately $20 million annually in expenditures from all funds. The Department of Psychology and Neuroscience has the largest undergraduate major in the College of Arts and Sciences with approximately 1500 majors, and one of the largest graduate Ph.D. programs with approximately 120 graduate students. The Department is also home to four community clinics which generate fee revenue (Adult Clinic, Anxiety Clinic, Child and Family Clinic, Couples Clinic), known collectively as the UNC Psychology and Neuroscience Community Clinic (the Clinic).

Position Summary:

The Research Technician will assist with NIH funded studies examining the neurobiological basis of motivated behaviors and alcohol use disorders (AUDs) using preclinical rodent models. This Research Technician will work with the Principal Investigator (Dr. Todd Thiele), postdoctoral fellows, graduate and undergraduate students. Primary responsibilities will include tasks that are central to managing the lab, including maintaining mouse breeding colonies, organizing and updating lab protocols, ordering supplies, and keeping track of grant budgets. This individual will also participate on experimental projects, which will include running mice through behavioral tests and preparing mice for studies via stereotaxic surgery for implantation of brain cannulae and injection of pharmacological compounds and viral vectors. This research Technician will also be responsible for post-study preparation of mouse brain tissue using immunohistochemistry and PCR histological procedures. This Research Technician will both work independently on research projects as well as on collaborative projects with other members of the lab. Finally, this Research Technician will assist with the training of laboratory procedures for new members entering the lab.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

Demonstrated possession of the competencies necessary to perform the work.

Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience:

Laboratory Management: This Research Technician will be the primary manager in the Thiele laboratory and must have some prior research experience in a laboratory. To this end they will be charged with organizing the laboratory for maximum efficiency, maintaining records, including maintaining drug use records and annual renewal of drug licenses, and providing training/feedback/instructions to lab personnel to assure that all individuals are complying with lab protocols and procedures. The candidate must also have experience with purchasing supplies using UNC approved systems, and maintaining budgets. This candidate will be responsible for ensuring the laboratory is in compliance with IACUC/DLAM and EHS regulations. This individual will be the primary person that maintains and oversees the laboratory in Dr. Thiele's absence.

Knowledge - Professional/Scientific/Experimental Procedures: This position requires high levels of scientific skill and knowledge of behavioral neuroscience research principles and rodent experimental techniques. The position requires knowledge of rodent surgical techniques as well as pre- and post- surgical procedures in order to ensure successful completion of surgical experiments and procedures. Knowledge of brain regions and structures and drug calculations is required. The person in this position must have the ability to adapt or modify procedures based on findings or changing conditions with limited supervision. The individual must be able to use stereotaxic instruments with rodents with precision and skill. Familiarity with Western Blots and real-time PCR techniques is desirable.

Maintaining Breeding Colonies: This Research Technician will oversee and maintain breeding colonies, manage breeding colony records, be responsible for weaning animals, and genotyping offspring.

Communication: Demonstrated excellent written communication skills are required. Must have the ability to consult and make recommendations in area of research. Must have the ability to organize findings for grant proposals and progress reports. Must have the ability to lead the exchange of research information through demonstration and instruction, and to make recommendations to the team as to modifications to protocols that may improve the data or the results. Must have the ability to present research on the laboratory website in an organized, well-written fashion.

Training: This position requires the ability to train new employees and students in all aspects of research conducted in the lab, including animal handling, aseptic techniques, routine laboratory duties, and equipment maintenance. This also includes training on specialized equipment, such as utilizing tattoo identification equipment, alcohol plasma analysis, inventory management software, etc. The ability to document experimental processes and results in lab instruction manuals, reports or publications is also required.

Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience:

Accuracy Required in Work: A high degree of accuracy is required to ensure that data collected and entered for analysis is correct.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
o Knowledge of research ethics and research methods.
o Ability to work independently.
o Ability to solve problems independently and seek resources to solve problems as needed
o Ability to organize tasks and time.
o Ability to work well as part of a team.
o Excellent interpersonal skills to interact pleasantly and professionally with faculty, staff, and students.

Campus Security Authority Responsibilities:

Not Applicable.

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