Queens, NY, 11415, USA
Queens, NY, 11415, USA
Singapore, Singapore
Posted: 04-Sep-24
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Salary: Open
Internal Number: 253942
Candidates can apply by uploading a short cover letter with a CV and contact information for two references addressed to Professor Krista Wigginton.
The Wigginton Lab (PI Krista Wigginton) studies viruses outside of their hosts and work on innovative approaches to detecting, monitoring, and characterizing viruses found in water, air, and on surfaces. The lab probes the mechanisms by which viruses lose their infectivity in both engineered and natural systems and leverage findings from this work to improve non-pharmaceutical interventions aimed at reducing the spread of pathogenic viruses.
We are looking to bring on a full-time research technician (100% time regular staff position; 40hrs/wk) to support different aspects of work in the lab. Work will be conducted at both North (EWRE) and Central (SPH) campuses at the University of Michigan. The primary role of these positions will be lab-based, focused on extracting and concentrating field-collected samples and then running those samples through ddPCR. Duties require molecular lab experience and an ability to work well with others.
Sample processing, method development, virus cultivation, lab management, and lab maintenance (80%) - The primary responsibility of this position is to culture bacteriophages and eukaryotic viruses; to quantify organisms in environmental samples with ddPCR. This position requires molecular lab experience. Other duties include performing monthly lab inspections, oversee the cleaning and maintenance of equipment, act as the primary resource for lab safety management, oversee undergraduates in basic lab maintenance tasks and lab safety, and be responsible for ordering research and laboratory supplies and maintaining appropriate databases.
Data management (10%) - The applicant will have responsibilities that include data management, conducting quality control on results, uploading results to cloud storage, sharing data with our collaborators at other institutes, and presenting results to the group (see below), and possibly running R scripts for visualization.
Lab meetings & communication of results (10%) - Our research team has a weekly lab meeting to discuss sample processing and future directions. The applicant will be expected to communicate results of their work to our group, send updates to our community and research partners, perform various computational projects to support research in the lab, and aid in other public outreach efforts.
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, epidemiology, chemistry, or biology (broadly defined) with significant wet lab experience, including molecular methods.
- Willingness to work as part of a team.
- Experience working with environmental samples.
- Some flexibility with working hours - running a large ddPCR plate can take 8-9 hours so a day that starts at 8am isn't uncommon.
- Experience coding in R.
This is a one year term-limited position with the possibility of renewal. Start date will be between mid to late September 2024, depending on availability
The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.
The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.