Research Technician II, Cell Biology, Mark Lab

Why UT Southwestern?

With over 75 years of excellence in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, UT Southwestern is committed to excellence, innovation, teamwork, and compassion. At UT Southwestern, we invest in you with opportunities for career growth and development that align with your future goals and help to provide security for you and your family. Our highly competitive benefits package offers healthcare, PTO and paid holidays, on-site childcare, wage, merit increases and so much more that are all available on the day you start work. UT Southwestern is honored to be a Veteran Friendly work environment that is home to approximately 800 veterans. We value your integrity, dedication, and the commitment you’ve made to our country. We’re proud to support your next mission. Ranked by Forbes as one of the Top 10 National Employers, we invite you to be a part of the UT Southwestern team where you’ll discover teamwork, professionalism, and consistent opportunities for growth.

Department of Cell Biology

The Department of Cell Biology is ideally positioned to interconnect research across scales of biological complexity and between basic and translational research efforts at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Understanding the complexity of cellular processes and their inter-relationships will require interdisciplinary, collaborative research both within the Department and across campus. Our open-lab space on the North Campus provides an ideal environment to establish the synergistic, interdisciplinary research and training environment necessary to position us for new discoveries and for the integration of existing knowledge at the cellular level. These efforts are supported by core facilities that provide cutting-edge instrumentation and expertise in light and electron microscopy.

Job Summary

A Research Technician II position is available in the laboratory of Dr. Kevin Mark, a biomedical research laboratory within the Department of Cell Biology. Our group studies the posttranslational modification of proteins by ubiquitin. While ubiquitin is well known for eliminating aberrant proteins, our research is focused on a new role for this quality control process, namely the regulation of gene expression during development and in disease. Our main goal is to understand how the ubiquitin-proteasome system targets the transcriptional machinery for degradation to facilitate cell fate transitions. We are looking for a highly motivated individual to support research projects focused on understanding how protein posttranslational modifications contribute to disease using stem cells as a model for embryonic development. The candidate will obtain in depth hands-on training on experimental techniques in biochemistry, cell biology, and molecular biology. The candidate will work directly with the lab head who will provide the necessary training to acquire more advanced skills in a world-leading research setting.

A commitment of 2 years is strongly encouraged. Candidates with prior experience in flow cytometry, mass spectrometry, or genomics is preferred.

Preferred Skills

• Basic word processing
• Spreadsheet computer skills
• Efficient organizational skills
• Attention to detail
• Accurate record keeping
• Effective communication skills
• Ability to work independently

Experience and Education

• Bachelor's degree with major coursework in field of assignment and no experience required. or
• Two (2) years college with emphasis in coursework in field of assignment and two (2) years of laboratory experience at level of Laboratory Technical Assistant or equivalent. or
• High school graduation or GED and four (4) years laboratory experience to include two (2) years at level of Laboratory Technical Assistant or equivalent.

Lab Duties

• Responsible for general lab management and organization, including ordering of lab consumables, reagent preparation, dishwashing and autoclaving
• Maintains general function of laboratory equipment and apparatus
• Genotyping of CRISPR-engineered cell lines
• Bacterial culture for molecular cloning and protein purification
• Cell/tissue sample preparation and DNA extractions for PCR
• Assists postdoctoral fellows and students in conducting experiments when needed
• Assists with experiments and research in the fields of molecular biology, biochemistry, tissue culture, and other related areas as directed by PI or lab supervisor
• Assembles and/or operates laboratory equipment and apparatus
• Records data in accordance with established protocols. Reviews with supervisor experimental results obtained and modifies procedures in consultation with PI or lab supervisor, if necessary
• Performs additional duties if assigned

Job Duties

• Performs routine scientific and medical research work in science area such as biology, chemistry, physics, or other related scientific field.
• Assembles and/or operates various laboratory equipment and apparatus.
• Records research data in accordance with prescribed procedures, discussing results with supervisor.
• Assists in collection of data for project reports.
• Reads literature and confers with supervisor concerning implementation of new procedures.
• May plan for, and provide working supervision to, work of laboratory personnel of lower grade engaged in limited phase of research project.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

To learn more about the benefits UT Southwestern offers, visit https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/employees/hr-resources/

UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status.