Research Lab Tech 1 - Neuroscience

POSITION SUMMARY:

The research lab technician will provide essential support for an exciting neuroscience project in the labs of Anne Takesian, Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School (HMS) and Daniel Polley, Professor at HMS and Director of the Eaton-Peabody Laboratories at Mass Eye and Ear. Mentorship and guidance from Profs. Takesian and Polley will be complemented with daily supervision by an experienced postdoctoral fellow. This project will identify new treatment pathways for neural hyperactivity disorders linked to auditory hypersensitivity and the perception of phantom sounds that do not exist in the sensory environment (e.g., tinnitus). This project will expose the lab technician to a wide range of contemporary synaptic/circuits/systems neuroscience approaches including operant behavioral testing, fiber photometry, in vitro whole cell recordings, 2-photon imaging, and mouse surgery. The research lab technician will receive an appointment at HMS and will learn new concepts in neuroscience, hearing research, and data analysis, with the potential for co-authorship on resulting publications and conference abstracts. Many prior research assistants with the Takesian and Polley labs have leveraged their lab experience to enroll in top MD, PhD, or DVM training programs (https://polleylab.meei.harvard.edu/). This is an exciting opportunity to work in a large basic research center embedded in an active clinical setting that will provide career development opportunities for individuals with an interest in science and medicine.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• May be asked to support acquisition of in vivo measurements of brain activity.

• May be asked to support acquisition of in vivo electrophysiological recordings.

• May be asked to assist in histological processing of brain tissue, obtain high resolution images with confocal or epifluorescence microscopes, and quantify fluorescent protein expression with software analysis packages.

• May be asked to assist in surgery and the care of animals.

• May be asked to support behavioral testing and analysis of behavioral data.

• May be asked to support husbandry and genotyping of the mouse colony.

• May be asked to support data analysis using custom analysis scripts.

• May be asked to present project updates during scheduled lab meetings.

• May have the chance to attend and present during educational programs, seminars, and/or conferences.

• May be asked to perform other laboratory related functions as required or directed.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

A 2-year commitment is required.

Job will require performance of tasks that involve exposure to laboratory mice.

Research lab technician will be required to show ability to work independently on some aspects of the project.

Qualifications

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Work requires a bachelor's degree, or equivalent combination or education and experience. Requires application of common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form; basic familiarity with MS Office and computer use for data access and reporting; report hours worked via the semi-automatic time keeping system; deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations; communicate with lab members via impromptu conversations and digital platforms in English; and speak effectively before groups of employees in English. Prior experience in a related research setting is preferred.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Requires clear vision at 20 inches or less and depth perception. Work requires some lifting and carrying objects weighing up to 50 pounds.

EEO Statement

Massachusetts Eye and Ear is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to providing a workplace free from harassment or discrimination. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, age, gender, gender identification, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, sex, pregnancy or conditions related to pregnancy, national origin/ancestry, citizenship, disability, military status, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by law. These protections extend to all management practices and decisions, including recruitment and hiring practices, appraisal systems, promotions, training, and career development programs.