• Job Type: Support Staff - Union
• Bargaining Unit: SSA
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building:
• Salary Range: $53,394.17- $53,394.17

Position Summary

The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics is looking to hire Technician B to work in the laboratory of Dr. Sobolevsky. The candidate will be technical support staff for the Principal Investigator and other lab investigators, as needed. 

Responsibilities

• Assist with general lab management tasks including keeping track of, organizing, and ordering supplies and organizing equipment maintenance, as needed. 
• Usage of molecular biology tools to modify TRP channel coding sequences and introduce them into vectors for expression in bacterial, insect or mammalian cells. 
• Utilization of different cell lines and expression systems to produce TRP channel protein on small and large scales. 
• Usage of affinity and size-exclusion chromatography to purify TRP channel protein and characterize its behavior using Fluorescent-detection Size-Exclusion Chromatography (FSEC), SDS-PAGE and other biophysical and biochemical techniques. 
• Making cryo-EM grids for screening at 200-kV transmission electron microscopes (TEMs) and collection at 300-kV TEMs. 
• Cryo-EM data processing, structural model building and refinement. 
• Analysis of structural data and design of mutations to test the molecular models. 
• Electrophysiological recordings and calcium uptake measurements using fluorescent dyes to assess TRP channel function. 
• Contribute to analysis of results and writing manuscripts. 
• Perform other related duties and responsibilities as assigned/requested. 

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biology, physics, or related science or equivalent combination of education, training and experience. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Basic skills in molecular biology. 
• Basic understanding of protein biochemistry and structure. 
• Basic skills in protein analysis and purification (measurements of protein concentration, SDS PAGE, chromatographic techniques). 
• Handling of eukaryotic cell culture and bacteria. 
• Experience in fluorescent techniques (e.g., Fluorescence-detection Size-Exclusion Chromatography). 
• Experience in cryo-EM sample preparation. 
• Knowledge and usage of protein manipulation and analysis software (e.g., Coot, Chimera, Pymol). 

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.