Position Summary:

Uses a variety of techniques to prepare microscope slides for classroom use is the study of botany, embryology, genetics, histology, parasitology, pathology and zoology.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Participates in the preparation of high-quality whole mount, thick section(paraffin), thin section (plastic) prepared slides for educational use.
• Prepares stains, alcohols, adhesives and other chemicals needed for specimen preparation, mounting specimens, staining specimens and cleaning prepared microscope slides.
• Dehydrates specimens by "pouring off" various alcohol based solutions to remove water from specimens. Runs tissue up through a series of chemicals to prepare it for embedding and cutting for sections or for use in whole mounts.
• Embeds dehydrated tissue in paraffin or plastic for sectioning or puts it in Eukitt if tissue is for whole mount preparation.
• Dissects materials and prepares them for sectioning or whole mounts.
• Operates a rotary microtome and ultra microtome to cut materials embedded in paraffin or plastic.
• For whole mount slides places material on slide and covers with a coverglass.
• Stains tissues for better visibility under the microscope by using an automatic staining machine. Once stained, tissue is placed in automatic cover slipping machine.
• Keeps work station cleaned and organized
• Follows oral and written instructions and performs

Secondary Responsibilities:

• Cleans slides using a razor blade to trim off excess mounting media, wipes off fingerprints and labels them with proper label.
• Fills empty chemical cans.
• Gathers supplies needed to perform job duties.
• Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

Education—

• High School diploma or general education degree (GED)

Experience—

• Three months to one-year related experience and/or training preferred. On-the-job training is provided to teach specific job tasks through demonstration and written and oral instruction.