Microbiome Research Technician

The Microbiome Research Technician provides temporary summer support for ongoing research efforts focusing on marine invertebrate microbiomes.

Facility Support:

The responsibilities of the Microbiome Research Technician include, but are not limited to the following: Processing collected animals or settlement plates by photographing said animals or plates, preserving samples, keying out and identifying individual organisms, and preparing samples for DNA analysis.

This includes:

DNA extraction PCR amplification of the DNA Gel electrophoresis DNA barcoding Normalization of DNA concentrations Analysis of data Entering and managing data Management of laboratory equipment and supplies Assistance with analysis and manuscript preparations for submission to peer-reviewed scientific journals Other duties as assigned Bachelor's degree (completed or in progress) in biology, biochemistry, microbiology, or a related field. At least 6-12 months of hands-on laboratory experience performing DNA extraction and/or PCR in a research or teaching lab setting. Proficiency with molecular biology methods (e.g., pipetting, sterile technique, gel electrophoresis, nucleic acid quantification) Ability to follow protocols, keep accurate records, and work with minimal oversight Ability to handle routine lab maintenance and inventory tasks Experience with Microsoft Word/Excel and/or Google Docs/Sheets Punctual, reliable, and eager to complete daily tasks 2+ years of molecular biology/microbiology lab experience Specific experience with DNA extraction from environmental or low-biomass samples Past use of the Qiagen DNeasy PowerSoil Pro or similar DNA extraction kits Prior experience preparing amplicon libraries for NGS sequencing Previous recommendation or reference from a research supervisor confirming reliability and technical competence