Core Facilities Technician, Center for Biomedical Research Support

Job Posting Title:

Core Facilities Technician, Center for Biomedical Research Support

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Hiring Department:

Center for Biomedical Research Support

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

Exempt

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Earliest Start Date:

Immediately

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue

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Location:

AUSTIN, TX

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Job Details:

GENERAL NOTES:

The Center for Biomedical Research Support (CBRS) is a collection of 10 service centers that operates under the Vice President for Research, Scholarship and Creative Endeavors (OVPR) and broadly supports the research community on campus and externally. CBRS serves a central role across all of campus to provide access to cutting-edge technology, expert advice, and centralized services. CBRS is comprised of core facilities including Biomedical Imaging, Bioinformatics, Biological Mass Spectrometry, Biomedical Research Computing, Cryo-EM imaging, Genome Sequencing, Microscopy/Flow Cytometry and Mouse Genetic Engineering. In addition, CBRS provides laboratory support in the forms of stockrooms, electronics repair, and external services drop boxes. 

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

Please visit our Human Resources (HR) website to learn more about the total benefits offered.

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 sec