Senior Technician

• Job Type: Support Staff - Union
• Bargaining Unit: SSA
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35.00
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building:
• Salary Range: 63,234.71 - 63,234.71

Position Summary

We are seeking a full-time Senior Technician to join Dr. Neil Shneider’s lab in the Motor Neuron Center at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. The Senior Technician will join an ongoing research effort using novel mouse models of ALS/FTD and human tissue samples to explore molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration in ALS, frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and related disorders.

Responsibilities

The Senior Technician will:

• Carry out basic histological preparations of human and mouse tissues using existing protocols or developing and optimizing additional immunohistochemical methods as necessary. 
• Analyze stained tissues using advanced imaging techniques, including confocal microscopy. 
• Perform molecular biology and biochemical experiments, such as western blotting, electrophoresis, RNA/DNA/Protein isolations, and PCR. 
• Develop and maintain IACUC protocols while also managing the laboratory’s mouse colony through husbandry, genotyping and a range of molecular, cellular and behavioral assays to be characterize different mouse lines.
• Maintain laboratory equipment and records, perform quality control and quality assurance activities as needed. 
• Perform miscellaneous functions required to maintain operation of the laboratory such as liaising with the university EH&S office, ensuring the lab is compliant with state, local and university rules and regulations and ordering reagents for lab work.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor's degree and at least 1.5 years of related experience or equivalent in education, training and experience. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in RNA sequencing and computational methods is an advantage but not required.
• A working knowledge of experimental methods in cellular and molecular neurobiology. 
• Comfort around human-derived tissues/samples. 
• Prior experience working with mouse models of disease is preferred.
• Demonstrated organizational skills and a strong attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Excel and use of Internet resources for literature searches and database mining.

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Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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