Research Technician Associate
CaltechJob Category: Fulltime Regular
Exempt Overtime Eligible: Overtime Eligible
Benefits Eligible: Benefit Based
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Job Summary
The Research Technician Associate in the Bjorkman Laboratory in the Division of Biology and Biological Engineering will assist a multidisciplinary research team with multiple projects to study antibody response and immunization strategies as part of an effort to develop novel vaccines and antibody therapeutics against viral pathogens. The Research Technician Associate will be the technical lead for mammalian protein expression and purification in the lab and should have experience expressing recombinant proteins in mammalian cells. In addition, the Research Technician Associate will assist researchers in the lab in characterizing antigen-antibody responses including performing ELISAs on an automated liquid handler, running SDS-PAGE and Western blots, and running flow-cytometry-based characterization assays.
Essential Job Duties

• Molecular biology tasks including cloning (PCR, gel electrophoresis, sequencing and validating constructs, etc.) and plasmid preparation.
• Protein purification (affinity and size exclusion chromatography).
• Western blotting and SDS-PAGE.
• Bioconjugations of proteins, ELISAs, and other assays.
• Implementing and troubleshooting flow cytometry-based characterization assays.
• Transfection and maintenance of mammalian cell lines.
• General lab duties including buffer and reagent prep.
• Maintenance of equipment related to protein expression and purification.
• Training new lab members in proper tissue culture technique.
• Coordinating lab transfection and protein production schedule.
• Maintaining records.
• Other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications

• BA or BS in Biology or related field.
• At least 2 years of experience in a biology or chemistry research laboratory.
• Mammalian tissue culture experience.
• Experience with molecular cloning (Gibson, Golden Gate Assembly, etc.).
• Experience characterizing proteins via ELISA, SDS-PAGE, Western Blot, etc.
• Experience with flow cytometry and/or cell sorting.
• Knowledge of buffer prep and calculations.
• Excellent communication skills (oral and written).
• Ability to work in a team environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• A background in immunology, molecular biology, or structural biology.
• Experience using an automated liquid handling system.

Required Documents

• Resume

To be considered for this position please visit our web site and apply on line at the following link: https://hr.caltech.edu/work/job_openings
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
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