Research Technician

The Blackiston Lab at Tufts University is seeking a versatile, experienced, and highly motivated research technician, who will report to the Principal Investigator and assist with wetlab experiments, automation platforms, and animal husbandry. The Research Technician will aid the PI with a broad range of bench top lab techniques supporting multiple projects in a developmental biology focused lab. Up to 70% of the primary tasks will include culturing and manipulating amphibian embryos, cloning, brightfield and fluorescent microscopy, immunohistochemistry, optogenetic tool development, robotic experimentation, and general lab responsibilities. The remaining time will be dedicated to focus on aquatic animal husbandry: maintaining resident stocks of primarily Xenopus laevis frogs and their housing equipment. Experience with cloning, optogenetics, and/or bulk RNAseq are beneficial but not required. The ideal candidate must be observant, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple concurrent tasks with excellent verbal and written communication skills. Experience with vertebrate or invertebrate model organisms is valuable, but not required. Conducts routine experiments following appropriate protocols and procedures to achieve results Records results and maintains accurate records of experiments, Performs limited data interpretation and assists with basic statistics and analysis Maintains laboratory equipment and orders/keeps inventory of supplies Prepares stock solutions, reagents and other media Monitors animal colonies and performs husbandry, collects samples and maintains census records Aquaculture Responsibilities: -feeding and waste removal in ?fish tank? style housing -performing water quality tests using kits and electrical meters and logging the results -Observing animals for signs of illness and / or injury and reporting concerns about animal health and welfare to lab staff and University veterinary staff -Follow lab procedures and university regulatory animal care protocols Preferred Qualifications: A Bachelor's degree in a STEM field of focus: biochemistry, biology, biomedical engineering, or a related discipline is required, with 1?2 years of molecular biology experience in an academic or industrial laboratory. Standard background in biological research: making solutions, microscopy, pipetting, electronic laboratory notebooks. Background work with an in vivo or in vitro biological system (i.e. any living organism). Comfortable following the instructions of supervising staff and asking clarifying questions when needed Familiarity with basic laboratory techniques and procedures An ideal candidate would have background in 1 or more of the following areas: 1) general cloning and sequencing, 2) optogenetic stimulation of cells, 3) experience with a biological model species, 4) background in bioinformatics and bulk RNAseq analysis.