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

The Duke Human Vaccine Institute (DHVI) leads cutting edge vaccine research against infectious diseases that impact global health. Basic science discoveries made by the collaborative DHVI team are contributing to the identification of vaccine and therapeutic candidates for early phase clinical trials using a variety of human and pathogen-derived proteins.  We are seeking a motivated and hardworking Research Technician II to support DHVI operations within the Division of Structural Biology. The primary responsibilities will be preparing samples for negative stain electron microscopy (EM), as well as collecting and analyzing EM data.

Responsibilities

• Prepare negative stain electron microscopy samples, collect EM data on our microscope, analyze EM data with established computational algorithms and programs, and prepare and distribute final reports.
• Perform complex experiments working with animal and human protein specimens in teams and individually.
• Understand and comply with all safety standards and procedures to ensure a safe working environment for all lab staff and adhere to best practices as defined by lab SOPs and as instructed by supervisors.
• Maintain lab notebook and other documentation in an orderly and accurate fashion for tracking work progress, experiments, and results.
• Provide a summary of written work updates and plans each week.
• Keep lab equipment, chemicals reagents and supplies in excellent order.  Perform routine lab maintenance, cleaning, ordering and organizing.
• Learn and develop new lab techniques and teach them to other lab staff. 
• Collaborate with staff, supervisors, and DHVI investigators to review results and develop new research plans; assist in the training of new personnel.
• Perform other duties assigned by the Principal Investigator and lab leadership.

The ideal candidate will:

• Be able to work both independently and within a team and have the ability troubleshoot and resolve problems.
• Be able to manage multiple and rapidly changing priorities and have the ability to quickly learn new skills.

Required Qualifications at this Level:

• Education/Training: Work generally requires a bachelor's degree in botany, biology, zoology, psychology or other directly related scientific field.
• Experience: None required above education/training requirement.

Preferences:

• Basic skills in laboratory techniques including pipetting and preparing solutions.

• Familiarity and comfort working with computers and standard software (Word, Excel, etc.).
• Good keyboarding skills.
• Experience with Unix/Linux, scripting, Python, or other computer programming.
• Experience with any form of microscopy.

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.