Posted: Apr 11, 2024
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Core Facility Technician, Center for Biomedical Research Support

University of Texas at Austin - Austin, TX
Full-time
Salary: Annually
Application Deadline: N/A
Core Resource Lab

The Microscopy and Imaging Facility (MIF) is a core facility in the Center for Biomedical Research Support at the University of Texas at Austin.  Our mission is to support multidisciplinary research and further scientific knowledge by providing access to state-of-the-art light microscopy, flow cytometry, and other research instrumentation; consultations with our expert staff; instrument trainings; and educational seminars and workshops.

We are seeking a skilled and motivated Core Technician to join our team. In this role, you will be responsible for the maintenance, operation, and user training of scientific instrumentation, with a specific focus on light microscopes, flow cytometers, sectioning instruments, plate readers, and gel imagers.  As a member of our team, you will play a critical role in advancing research projects at UT Austin.

We provide excellent customer service to our researchers, and we believe in making our instrumentation accessible to any researcher, no matter their previous experience level or knowledge. By training researchers in this role, you will contribute to the development of the next generation of scientists.  Through working in a multidisciplinary core facility, you will gain experience with a wide variety of sample types and experiments. We are looking for someone who can work full-time on-site in the Microscopy and Imaging Facility to provide instrument support and maintenance when needed.

UT Austin offers a competitive benefits package that includes:  

  • 100% employer-paid basic medical coverage  

  • Retirement contributions

  • Paid vacation and sick time

  • Paid holidays

PURPOSE: 

This position will support research at the University of Texas at Austin by providing user training on instrumentation, consultations with users on their experiments, and maintenance of instrumentation to ensure data quality, with a specific focus on light microscopes, flow cytometers, sectioning instruments, plate readers, and gel imagers.

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

  • Trains researchers on the theory and proper operation of instrumentation in the Microscopy and Imaging Facility, with a specific focus on light microscopes, sectioning instruments, gel imagers, and plate readers. Provides ongoing support to researchers for troubleshooting or experiment questions after training.

  • Conducts daily and periodic maintenance of instruments, including light microscopes, flow cytometers, sectioning instruments, gel imagers, plate readers, and related computers. Schedules and coordinates external service technicians as needed. Keeps accurate records of all maintenance performed to ensure quality of experiment data.

  • Operates instruments to acquire data on behalf of researchers. Communicates regularly with researchers on these assisted use projects to discuss their experiment needs and goals.

  • Consults with researchers on experiment design, data acquisition, and analysis.

  • Develops standard operating protocols as needed for new instrumentation or changes in methodology. Keeps accurate records of instrument usage and scheduling.  

  • Other related functions as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

  • Bachelor’s degree with at least two years of relevant experience or master’s degree.

  • Hands-on experience operating a cryostat or similar sectioning instrument.

  • Hands-on experience operating a plate reader and/or gel imager.

  • Hands-on experience operating light microscopes, including fluorescence microscopes.

  • Ability to work independently to complete responsibilities.

  • Organizational and time management skills.

  • Excellent interpersonal skills.

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:  

  • Experience with light microscope maintenance protocols, including cleaning.

  • Experience with flow cytometry maintenance protocols, including quality control.

  • Experience training others to use scientific instruments.

  • Experience with sample preparation, including fluorescent labeling.

SALARY RANGE: $45,000 + depending on qualifications

WORKING CONDITIONS:

  • Uniforms and/or personal protection equipment (furnished)

  • May work around chemical fumes

  • May work around standard office conditions

  • May work around biohazards

  • May work around chemicals

  • Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation

  • Use of manual dexterity

  • Lifting and moving

REQUIRED MATERIALS:

  • Resume/CV

  • 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor.

  • Letter of interest

Retirement Plan Eligibility: The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Background Checks:  A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer: The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Pay Transparency: The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

Employment Eligibility Verification: If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form.  You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States.  Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment.  Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

E-Verify: The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197.

Compliance: Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031. The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.