• Job Type: Support Staff - Union
• Bargaining Unit: SSA
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $26.16 per hour

Position Summary

The Rumora lab is looking for a highly-motivated laboratory technician to join the lab for at least two years. The technician will conduct research projects to evaluate the effect of dietary fat on nerve function in models of type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, and obesity. We are particularly interested in understanding the effect of fatty acids on mitochondrial transport and function in sensory neurons as a potential mechanism that contributes to the development of peripheral neuropathy in type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, and obesity.

Responsibilities

The technician will conduct in vitro cell culture experiments with primary neurons and neuronal cell lines including cell culture, fatty acid treatments, confocal microscopy, image analysis, and bioenergetics studies. Duties will also include in vivo animal research and husbandry, dissection, and tissue processing. This is a full-time position that will require occasional weekend work. 

The Technician will work closely with Dr. Rumora and other members of the lab to:

• Assist with new laboratory set up and organization.
• Conduct cell culture experiments with cell lines and primary cells.
• Collect, process, and analyze laboratory cell and animal samples
• Process dissected tissue samples, including embedding, sectioning, immunohistochemistry, imaging, and analyzing, etc.
• Perform immunohistochemistry and advanced cell imaging, including live-cell confocal microscopy
• Use laboratory computer programs to analyze data sets including Metamorph, Imaris, Photoshop, Excel, and Prism
• Perform molecular biology techniques, like western blotting, electrophoresis, RNA/DNA/Protein isolations, PCR, and tissue sectioning
• Conduct animal research and husbandry including administration of glucose tolerance tests, injections, recording weekly body weights and glucose levels, food changes, animal dissection, gene and protein expression analysis, immunohistochemistry, and analyzing and recording laboratory data.
• Assist with project team planning and training
• Other tasks as needed

Minimum Qualifications

Requires a bachelor's degree in Neuroscience, Biology, Biochemistry, or related science or equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience with laboratory techniques
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, GraphPad Prism, Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator, and Metamorph

Other Requirements

• Must be comfortable with learning and conducting animal work  
• Organization, punctuality, and attention to detail
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work well in a team
• Possesses the ability to work independently with limited supervision after initial training
• A willingness to learn new computer analysis programs as needed
• Ability to take detailed laboratory notes

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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