RESEARCH TECHNICIAN III

This Position is Grant Funded

School of Medicine

Established in 1930, Duke University School of Medicine is the youngest of the nation's top medical schools. Ranked sixth among medical schools in the nation, the School takes pride in being an inclusive community of outstanding learners, investigators, clinicians, and staff where interdisciplinary collaboration is embraced and great ideas accelerate translation of fundamental scientific discoveries to improve human health locally and around the globe. Composed of more than 2,600 faculty physicians and researchers, nearly 2,000 students, and more than 6,200 staff, the Duke University School of Medicine along with the Duke University School of Nursing, and Duke University Health System comprise Duke Health, a world-class academic medical center. The Health System encompasses Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, Duke Health Integrated Practice, Duke Primary Care, Duke Home Care and Hospice, Duke Health and Wellness, and multiple affiliations.

RESEARCH TECHNICIAN III

Haynes Lab – Duke Human Vaccine Institute

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Duke Human Vaccine Institute (DHVI) leads cutting edge vaccine research against infectious diseases that impact global health. Basic science discoveries made using a variety of human and pathogen-derived proteins, designed, produced and evaluated by a collaborative DHVI team are contributing to the identification of vaccine and therapeutic candidates currently being produced in Good Manufacturing Practice facilities for early phase clinical trials. This technical research position will focus on evaluating, through use of several laboratory binding assays, these experimental vaccine components and the immune responses they generate in animal models.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Perform vaccine research in Dr. Bart Haynes’ Laboratory of B-Cell Immunology, focusing on in-vitro antibody binding assays.
• Collaborate in characterizing antibody responses in studies of human and animal specimens and recombinant systems utilizing ELISA, Luminex, SDS PAGE and Western blotting.
• Perform complex experiments working with animal and human specimens in teams and individually.
• Help pilot and optimize new laboratory techniques.
• Write, edit and update laboratory protocols as techniques are developed and modified.
• Maintain physical and electronic reagent and specimen databases in accurate and orderly condition.
• Respond to external requests for Haynes lab reagents by insuring that correct reagents are supplied in a timely manner.
• Understand and comply with all safety standards and procedures to insure a safe working environment for all laboratory staff.
• Design, execute, analyze and archive experiments in a manner that is scientifically justifiable, reliable and understandable to others.
• Generate graphs and charts of datasets for presentation to the principle investigator and others.
• Keep lab equipment, chemicals reagents and supplies in excellent order.  Perform routine lab maintenance, cleaning, ordering and organizing.
• Maintain laboratory compliance by insuring that key equipment stays current on planned preventative maintenance and certification.
• Maintain inventories of key reagents including tracking Qc and performing bridging studies between reagent lots.
• Learn and develop new lab techniques and teach them to other lab staff. 
• Collaborate with other staff, your supervisor, and principle investigator (Dr. Haynes) to review experimental results and develop new research plans; assist in the training of new personnel.
• Perform other duties as requested by the Principal Investigator or senior lab staff.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AT THIS LEVEL

• Education/Training: Work generally requires skills acquired through the completion of a bachelor's degree in botany, biology, zoology, psychology or other science related scientific field program.
• Experience: Work requires two years of research experience. A related master's degree may offset required years of experience on a 1:1 basis, e.g., a two-year master's degree in lieu of two years of experience. OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE.

PREFERENCES

• Able to manage multiple and rapidly changing priorities. Able to quickly learn new skills.

• Detail-oriented and well organized with strong communication skills and the ability to work in an interactive team environment.

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.