Research Technician II - Center for Genomic Medicine
Massachusetts General Hospital(MGH)

GENERAL SUMMARY/ OVERVIEW STATEMENT:

The Musolino Laboratory at the Center for Genomic Medicine in collaboration with Dr. Linsday's laboratory of the Cardiology Department at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, a translational neuroscience laboratory focusing on developing gene targeted therapies for inherited cerebrovascular disorders that lead to stroke and leukodystrophy, seeks an exceptional candidate for the position of research technician to implement studies involving animal models of rare neurogenetic diseases. While the technician will receive support from current study staff, as well as guidance from the Principal Investigator, and collaborators, ample independence to establish the use of animal husbandry, genotyping, animal colony management, optimizing breeding strategies, animal tissue/sample collection, necropsy, immunohistochemistry, imaging, and animal surgery techniques that are new to the lab is required. This full-time position requires a committed individual with prior experience working with rodents and is ideal for a candidate looking for a stable position in a well-funded lab.

The research technician will execute experimental procedures as defined in research meetings with supervision from research scientists and principal investigators.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• The research technician will be primarily responsible for the implementation of the laboratory's animal management and in-vivo projects.
• General Responsibilities Include:
• Maintains and orders supplies.
• Maintain and manage instruments and lab equipment.
• Maintains laboratory notebook, conducts data analysis, and interpretation of results.
• Prepares lab reagents and chemicals.
• Performs independent literature searches and contribute new ideas to the project.
• Must be able to independently formulate hypothesis and demonstrate a rational approach to experimentation in weekly lab meetings.
• Clearly communicate research results with collaborating labs and present findings at scientific conferences.
• This candidate will be comfortable with reaching full independence in order to plan, schedule, and execute experiments with minimal supervision.

Research Duties Include:

• Handling animals (mice), restraint methods, identification techniques (ear notching, tagging, and toe clipping), sexing and weaning of animals.
• Responsibilities include setting up of appropriate breeding pairs, performing tail clips and genotyping, behavioral testing and sacrificing for histological examination. The candidate will successfully establish and maintain mouse models of genetic disorders.
• Diligent monitoring of communication from animal facility regarding animal weaning and health updates and separating overcrowded cages as necessary. Record animal information (sex, strain, date of birth, breeding information) onto animal facility cage cards, and rewriting information accurately into mouse colony management software (Transnetyx).
• Must have prior experience with surgical techniques in rodents (mice). Perform mouse in vivo animal procedures, including dosing animals by various routes (oral, intravenous, intraperitoneal). Must be able to perform blood and tissue collection for research studies.
• Must be able to understand and follow the animal facilities standard operating procedures and MGH institutional guidelines and policies. Must be up to date with all required animal handling and maintenance trainings, as deemed by the institution.
• Responsible for maintenance of accurate animal records, including but not limited to data associated with ongoing research studies, breeding records, animal diet, health monitoring reports, ordering and receipt of research animals and animal disposition logs.
• Candidate must log and maintain detailed animal treatment records and inventory of all pharmaceutical compounds (ordering, usage) surgical equipment and supplies.
• Understand usage of appropriate laboratory animal strains in accordance with the defined project needs.
• Must have coherent understanding of mouse brain anatomy and physiology. Must be familiar with transgenic animals breeding techniques.
• Prior experience in imaging is a plus. Must be willing to learn and independently perform in-vivo animal imaging.
• Collection, fixation, sectioning and staining of animal histological specimens.
• Experience in mammalian cell culture (i.e. iPSC-derived models, cortical neurons, hepatocytes, cardiac myocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells and/or transformed cell lines) is necessary. Responsibilities include cell culture media preparation, culture initiation, propagation and cryopreservation.

Qualifications
SKILLS/ABILITIES/COMPETENCIES REQUIRED:

• Must be highly organized, detail-oriented, and have a strong motivation to learn.
• Must have excellent interpersonal, speaking, and writing abilities.
• Must be able to perform multiple tasks independently.
• Must be highly motivated and persistent.
• Ability to troubleshoot technical problems.
• Understanding of transgenic mouse generation.
• Ability to work independently and as a team member.
• Synthesizes and interprets results.

EDUCATION:

• BS or BA in life sciences required.
• MS in life sciences (Preferred)

EXPERIENCE:

• 2+ years of experience working in an accredited animal facility is desirable but not required.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

The research technician will spend 5 days per week in Dr. Musolino's laboratory in the Simches Research Building at Charles River Plaza. Work is divided between the bench on the 5th floor and the animal facility in the Their Building (5-minute walk). Various core facilities are in close proximity. Occasional visits to MGH-Main Campus and Ragon Institute of MGH, BWH, MIT and Harvard maybe required for collaborative studies and utilization of different research cores. The technician will work under the direct supervision of Dr. Vijai Krishnan, research scientist and Dr. Musolino (PI) and Dr. Mark Linsday (Co-PI), faculty members of the MGH Neurology and Cardiology Departments.

EEO Statement
Massachusetts General Hospital is an Equal Opportunity Employer. By embracing diverse skills, perspectives and ideas, we choose to lead. Applications from protected veterans and individuals with disabilities are strongly encouraged.

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