RESEARCH TECHNICIAN II

This Position is Fully 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 2,500 faculty physicians and researchers, more than 1,300 students, and more than 6,000 staff, the Duke University School of Medicine along with the Duke University School of Nursing, Duke University Health System and the Private Diagnostic Clinic (PDC) comprise Duke Health. a world-class academic medical center. The Health System encompasses Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, Duke Primary Care, Duke Home and Hospice, Duke Health and Wellness, and multiple affiliations.

Research Technician II

VGA Service Centre – Duke Human Vaccine Institute

Position Overview

The Duke Human Vaccine Institute (DHVI) continues to lead 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, expressed and purified by a collaborative DHVI team have contributed to the identification of vaccine and therapeutic candidates currently being produced in Good Manufacturing Practice facilities for early phase clinical trials. 

The Viral Genetic Analysis (VGA) service center/core at the Duke Human Vaccine Institute provides sequencing (NGS and Sanger) and genomic technologies to serve the needs of the Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke Center for AIDS Research, Duke

University and external collaborators.  

VGA service center is looking for a Research Technician II who will be responsible for daily maintenance and operation of the service center’s next generation sequencers, capillary sequencers, purification robot and other instruments.  

Responsibilities 

• Next-generation Sequencing (NGS) and capillary sequencing.
  • Sequencing reactions for Sanger sequencing and standard library preparations for NGS.
  • Denature, dilute, and load sequencing library samples 
• Run and maintain core equipment.
• Molecular biology assays such as PCR, site-directed mutagenesis, DNA preparation.
• Purify PCR products manually as well as on the liquid handling platforms. 
• Maintain sample records and tracking data.
• Compile, analyze, document, and draw tentative conclusions from experimental results.
• Confer with the principal investigator/manager to review work assignments and develop plans for research experiments.
• Make modifications to existing laboratory procedures and techniques to meet the needs of the particular project.
• Understand and comply with all safety standards and procedures to ensure a safe working environment for all laboratory staff.
• Perform routine lab maintenance, cleaning, organizing, and restocking supplies.
  • Includes keeping lab equipment, chemicals reagents and supplies in excellent order.
  • Collaborate with other staff and perform other duties as requested by the Principal Investigator/Manager or senior lab staff. 

Education, Skills, & Experience Requirements 

• Work generally requires a bachelor's degree in botany, biology, zoology, psychology or other directly related scientific field
• No experience required above education/training requirement
• OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

Preferences

• Basic skills in laboratory techniques 
• Must be punctual and have excellent oral and written communication skills
• Must be team oriented and able to work in a highly collaborative and interactive work environment to complete complex tasks
• Must be able to manage multiple and rapidly changing priorities and have ability to quickly learn new skills
• Must be detail-oriented and well organized 

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.