Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit
The Department of Biology at UNC-Chapel Hill is dedicated to the discovery and dissemination of new and existing knowledge in the broad discipline of Biology by maintaining a high-quality faculty who integrate cutting-edge research and student-focused teaching.
We are one of the largest academic departments in the College of Arts and Sciences. We have over 2,800 majors and we enroll over 5,000 undergraduate students in our classes each year. Our average total annual expenditures exceed $24 million, with nearly half of that coming from grant sponsored research. The department is composed of 50 tenure-track faculty, 10 teaching faculty, 8 research faculty, and numerous active adjunct and emeritus faculty. We currently have 50 graduate students, 40 post-docs and employ approximately 60 additional graduate and undergraduate students from across the university to assist in our teaching and research missions. Our mission is supported by an administrative and technical staff of 20, with an additional 25 staff directly supporting research.
The Hige lab is interested in circuit and molecular mechanisms of learning and memory. We use Drosophila as a model system and take advantage of the combination of sophisticated genetic tools and state-of-the-art physiological techniques and behavioral assays. We aim to determine how neurons change their activity after learning and what types of synaptic plasticity underlie those changes.
Position Summary
This position is located in the Biology Department within the College of Arts and Sciences. The Hige lab seeks a Research Technician. This position will provide technical and organizational support for NIH-funded neuroscience research in Dr. Toshi Hige’s lab. The employee will work as part of a team containing postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and other researchers, including undergraduate students. The duty of technical support includes maintenance of fly stocks, fly crossing and making solutions, which help other lab members’ projects. This position will also assist with a research project that involves experiments in Drosophila using electrophysiology, two-photon imaging, and behavioral assays. The duty of organizational support includes ordering lab supplies, management of shipment and maintenance of the lab spaces.
Minimum Education and Experience Requirements
Demonstrated possession of the competencies necessary to perform the work.
Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience
- Experience as a research assistant or technician in a biology-related lab.
- Basic knowledge about neuroscience, cell biology, molecular biology and microscope.
- Training in the ethical collection, presentation and storage of research data.
Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience
BS or BA in Biology from a 4-year accredited institution, ideally with coursework in neuroscience. Prior research experience with one of the following techniques: electrophysiology, functional imaging of neurons/brains or computer programming using Matlab or related languages.
2 years experience as a research assistant or technician in a biology-related lab.
Required Licenses/Certifications
N/A
Special Physical/Mental Requirements
Physical Effort:
The physical effort involved in the position is the ability to move supplies and equipment (up to 20 pounds). In addition, the employee must be capable of repeated micropipetting and working at the lab bench and/or at the dissecting microscope for several hours at a time.
Work Environment and Conditions:
All research will be performed in lab space in the Genome Sciences Building.
Machines, Tools, Instruments, Equipment and Materials Used:
The employee must be capable of safely and properly operating basic laboratory equipment including centrifuges, pH meters, analytical balances, micromanipulators, light microscopes, laser-scanning microscopes, electrophysiology rigs, electrophoresis chambers, water baths, autoclaves, freezers, refrigerators, computers and air tanks. The employee will assist in maintenance of this equipment, which may involve calling repair vendors.
Campus Security Authority Responsibilities
Not Applicable.
Position/Schedule Requirements