University of Utah

Department 00848 - Pediatric Administration Job Summary

Job Summary:

The Schober lab focuses on neurologic outcomes after traumatic injury (TBI) to the developing brain, using a rat pup model and, more recently, a piglet model of TBI. The Schober lab has studied Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA), a component of fish oil, and published novel findings on how inflammation in the developing rat brain responds to injury with or without treatment with DHA. Ongoing work highlights sex-dependent differences and functional aspects of the brain’s immune cells, such as the ability to make reactive oxygen species and phagocytose beads. The link to a YouTube video summarizing the lab’s rat work can be found here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPDseEuLwJE&t=1716s

This role will perform various support tasks in assisting scientific research team with the execution of tests and experiments. Set up, operate, clean, and maintain lab instruments and equipment. Depending on area of research, may prepare media, samples, solutions, specimens, and/or reagents. Perform testing and monitoring. Gather and record research data. Keep detailed logs of experiments. Maintain and stock supplies.

Grant ending 06/30/26:

This is a time-limited and temporary, non-benefited position with an anticipated end date of June 30, 2026. Employment may end sooner than anticipated based on departmental needs, funding availability, or other factors. Continued employment is contingent upon departmental review, satisfactory performance, and the availability of funding.

This position is posted at multiple job levels. Each level has distinct qualifications, responsibilities, which will be evaluated during the selection process. Final placement, including the associated pay rate, will be determined based on business needs and budget considerations.

Department Summary:

The Department of Pediatrics is the second largest department in the University of Utah School of Medicine and one of the largest pediatric departments in the country. We are committed to improving the lives of children through excellence in advocacy, education, research, and clinical care. For more information about the Department of Pediatrics, please visit: http://medicine.utah.edu/pediatrics/. Mutual respect and appreciation are highly valued in the department.

Responsibilities

Essential Functions:

Perform various support tasks in assisting scientific research team with the execution of tests and experiments. Set up, operate, clean, and maintain lab instruments and equipment. Depending on area of research, may prepare media, samples, solutions, specimens, and/or reagents. Perform testing and monitoring. Gather and record research data. Keep detailed logs of experiments. Maintain and stock supplies.

General responsibilities:

• Follows prescribed procedures for maintaining laboratory equipment such as surgical instruments, molecular biology equipment, cognitive and behavior testing facilities, among others.
• Prepares reagents, compounds, solutions and other media for research experimentation such as those needed for the above molecular procedures, tissue processing including sectioning, staining, imaging, and animal surgery and husbandry.
• Assist with inventory, ordering and stocking laboratory supplies and equipment including frozen samples.
• Maintains records of research data and may prepare charts or illustrations.
• Conducts literature reviews to obtain abstracts and information to be utilized in research.
• May oversee and coordinate the operations of students and/or volunteers during experiments in a laboratory setting.

Specific responsibilities:

• Performs euthanasia on rats or piglets as per IACUC and laboratory standards to obtain brain tissue; dissects and prepares brain tissue, blood, cerebrospinal fluid and other biological fluids/tissues as indicated by the research protocol. May obtain blood and/or cerebrospinal fluid from anesthetized rats or piglets.
• Performs routine animal husbandry (cares for rat dams and pups, observes their conditions and reports unusual developments to the principal investigator or other senior lab personnel. May administer intra-peritoneal or enteral drugs as instructed. Assists in survival surgeries and may perform survival surgeries with moderate supervision. May assist PI and senior lab personnel in piglet and/or minipig surgeries, monitoring, procedures with moderate supervision. May collect and analyze data gathered using multimodal monitoring and advanced software in piglets and mini pigs. May assist in preparing piglets or mini pigs for surgery (pre-operative fasting, daily weights) and post operative care (antibiotics, analgesics) with moderate supervision.
• Carries out functional testing on rats (tests of cognition and/or behavior such as Morris Water Maze, Novel Object Recognition, Dry Land Maze, etc) in rats and Spatial T maze, Novel Object Recognition, and others in piglets, assists with imaging anesthetized rats (Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Computerized Tomography or others)
• Can assist in administering and supervising the use of inhaled anesthetics for experimental purposes.
• Carries out basic bench procedures including molecular biology procedures such as real time RT PCR, ELISA, western blotting, flow cytometry, etc. according to established procedures.
• Prepares brain, blood and body fluid specimens according to established laboratory practices including those intended for shipment to outside or intramural facilities. Examples include samples for immunohistochemistry, real time RT PCR, western blotting, ELISA, flow cytometry.

The following job levels and associated pay rates will be considered based on job placement. Final placement, including the corresponding pay rate, will be determined by the department in alignment with business needs and budget considerations.

Research Technician, I

Entry-level support role. Performs routine tasks as directed and under close supervision.

Requires little to no related experience.

This is an Entry-Level position in the Support track.

Job Code: S56441

Grade: S12

Expected Pay Range: $15.00 to $18.87

Research Technician, II

Mid-level support role. Completes routine tasks under moderate supervision.

Requires at least 1 year of related experience.

This is an Intermediate Level position in the Support track.

Job Code: S56442

Grade: S14

Expected Pay Range: $17.33 to $21.81

Disclaimer:

This job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.

Minimum Qualifications

EQUIVALENCY STATEMENT: 1 year of higher education can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience (Example: bachelor’s degree = 4 years of directly related work experience).

Department may hire employee at one of the following job levels:

Research Technician, I: Requires little to no related experience.

Research Technician, II: Requires at least 1 year of related experience.

Preferences

Preferences:

Preferred qualifications: knowledge of many complex laboratory techniques, equipment, terminology, materials and substances. Skilled in the use of laboratory equipment, ability to use sophisticated software for image optimization and analyses including brain imaging and histology, prepare reports required; and demonstrated human relations and effective communication skills also preferred. OSHA training and certification in animal care and use or the willingness to complete the certification is required.

The Department will screen applicants according to the identified preferences.

Additional Information

The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (“URS”). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at (801) 581-7447 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801) 366-7770 or (800) 695-4877 or University Human Resource Management at (801) 581-7447 if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.

This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.

The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education.

Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

Consistent with state and federal law, the University of Utah does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.

To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX (OEO). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator’s office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at: https://www.utah.edu/nondiscrimination/

Online reports may be submitted at oeo.utah.edu

https://safety.utah.edu/safetyreport This report includes statistics about criminal offenses, hate crimes, arrests and referrals for disciplinary action, and Violence Against Women Act offenses. They also provide information about safety and security-related services offered by the University of Utah. A paper copy can be obtained by request at the Department of Public Safety located at 1658 East 500 South.

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