Research Technician I, Part-Time, Obata Lab

Research Technician I, Part-Time, Obata Lab, Immunology

Why UT Southwestern Medical Center? With over 75 years of excellence in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, UT Southwestern is committed to excellence, innovation, teamwork, and compassion. At UT Southwestern, we invest in you with opportunities for career growth and development that align with your future goals and help to provide security for you and your family. Our highly competitive benefits package offers healthcare, PTO and paid holidays, on-site childcare, wage, merit increases and so much more that are all available on the day you start work. UT Southwestern is honored to be a Veteran Friendly work environment that is home to approximately 800 veterans. We value your integrity, dedication, and the commitment you've made to our country. We're proud to support your next mission. Ranked by Forbes as one of the Top 10 National Employers, we invite you to be a part of the UT Southwestern team where you'll discover teamwork, professionalism, and consistent opportunities for growth.

Department of Immunology

The Immunology Department at UT Southwestern provides excellent opportunities for training in the concepts and techniques of contemporary biomedical sciences. Our mission is two-fold: advance knowledge and understanding of disorders of the immune system, and train future generations of scientists. These dual functions make the Department of Immunology a key contributor in UT Southwestern's promise of delivering the future of medicine, today.

Job Summary

The Dr. Yuki Obata laboratory in the department of Immunology and Neuroscience is looking for a Research Technician I on a part-time basis. The focus of the Obata Lab is to study how environmental signals (e.g., microbiota, diet, day/night cycles) shape intestinal neural circuits and immune cell networks. A variety of experimental techniques are used, including state-of-the-art imaging technologies, viral tracing of gut innervation, in vivo and ex vivo physiological assays, gnotobiotic systems and multi-omics technologies. The Obata lab is also interested in elucidating the molecular mechanisms of inter-organ communication, including the Gut-Brain axis.

Qualified candidates will have basic molecular biology benchtop skills. Must be willing to handle live mice and mouse tissues. Prior research experience and degree and/or relevant coursework is strongly preferred. Candidates with a strong desire to gain research experience before applying to graduate or medical school are highly encouraged to apply.

Experience and Education

• Completion of two (2) years of college or specialized training in histology, medical technology, or relevant field and one (1) year experience as Laboratory Technical Assistant or equivalent. OR
• High school graduation including courses in basic sciences such as physics, chemistry, biology, etc., and three (3) years of laboratory experience including two years as Laboratory Technical Assistant or equivalent.

Lab Duties

• Support the lab through various activities, including ordering reagents, maintaining laboratory common areas, and proper waste disposal.
• Maintain and organize large transgenic mouse colonies.
• Perform regular experiments such as immunohistochemistry, RNA extraction, RT-qPCR, and analyze data using various programs or software.
• Conduct mouse gut tissue culture following the lab's standard operating procedures.
• Plan, design, and organize experiments with the Principal Investigator (PI) or senior lab members.
• Maintain a well-organized lab notebook.
• Organize research data according to prescribed procedures, sharing results with the PI or collaborators in a timely manner.
• Read literature and confer with lab members about implementing new procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Job Duties

• Assists in conducting experiments and working on research problems in such fields as physiology, bacteriology, tissue culture, chemistry and other related fields by performing basic, routine, and least complex procedures as prescribed by supervisor. Assembles and/or operates various laboratory equipment and apparatus.
• Records resulting data in accordance with established methods. Confers with supervisor concerning results obtained and modifies procedures in accordance with instruction of supervisor.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

To learn more about the benefits UT Southwestern offers, visit https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/employees/hr-resources/

UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status.