RESEARCH TECHNICIAN II

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.

The Duke Center for Human Systems Immunology Preclinical Translation Team is seeking a motivated, detail-oriented scientist to fulfill a key role as Research Technician II to perform assays to assess the antibody response to vaccination and infection against HIV, SIV, and SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). The study results generated by the person in this role will inform the design of preclinical and human clinical trials for vaccines and provide insights into mechanisms of protective immunity against HIV and SARS-CoV-2. This person must be very organized, possess excellent communication skills, have a high level of technical precision, be interested in assay development and optimization, enjoy working in a fast-paced lab environment with multiple priorities, and be able to work well as part of a team. Job functions include:

• Perform complex and highly technical experiments in the laboratory to evaluate antibody dynamics in samples from preclinical non-human primate vaccine / passive immunization studies and human clinical trials.  Carefully and accurately document assay conditions, results, and quality control findings and report them promptly to meet deadlines.

• Work together with the study manager, data management team, and laboratory staff to ensure quality control of data sets.

• Perform binding antibody multiplex assays (BAMA) (including Fc receptor binding, avidity, pharmacokinetics), ELISA, MSD, antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis and complement deposition assays (flow cytometry), peptide microarray, and other assays in the laboratory. Assist with development of new methods and protocols, optimization of reagents, testing of various conditions, and determination of feasibility of assays using novel antigens.

• Assist with processing various biological specimen types for use in assays (e.g. IgG depletion and elution, mucosal sample extraction). 

• Assist with data analysis and writing of qualification documents and data reports.

• Assist the laboratory and project managers by contributing to the overall effort to streamline the workload, improve the efficiency of the Assay and Reagent Core, and contribute to the daily laboratory effort to adhere to Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP) guidelines. Assist with writing and editing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

• Understand and comply with all safety standards and procedures to ensure a safe working environment for all laboratory staff and adhere to best practices as defined by laboratory SOPs and as instructed by supervisors.

• Maintain laboratory and associated equipment in a clean, well-ordered, and functional manner.  Keep supplies on hand with a well-planned inventory and ordering system.   

• Maintain laboratory notebook and other documentation in an orderly and accurate fashion for tracking work progress, experiments, and results.

• Review primary data with supervisor weekly. Present updates and summaries of projects at laboratory meetings and small group meetings.

• Provide written updates of work and plans each week.

• Perform other related laboratory duties as necessary and requested by the Principal Investigator or senior lab staff.

Preferred Skills:

• Strong background in laboratory techniques with technical precision, experience with cell culture and infectious samples is a plus.
• Experience with computer programming is a plus.
• Must be able to manage multiple and rapidly changing priorities and have the ability to quickly learn new skills.
• Must be detail-oriented and well organized with strong communication skills and the ability to work in a fast-paced interactive team environment.

How to Apply

• Interested applicants should apply and also email resume to Dr. LaTonya Williams at latonya.williams@duke.edu.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

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. OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

Job Code: 00000951 RESEARCH TECHNICIAN II
Job Level: 08

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