School of Medicine
Established in 1930, Duke University School of Medicine is the youngest of the nation's top medical schools. Ranked sixth among medical schools in the nation, the School takes pride in being an inclusive community of outstanding learners, investigators, clinicians, and staff where interdisciplinary collaboration is embraced and great ideas accelerate translation of fundamental scientific discoveries to improve human health locally and around the globe. Composed of more than 2,600 faculty physicians and researchers, nearly 2,000 students, and more than 6,200 staff, the Duke University School of Medicine along with the Duke University School of Nursing, and Duke University Health System comprise Duke Health, a world-class academic medical center. The Health System encompasses Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, Duke Health Integrated Practice, Duke Primary Care, Duke Home Care and Hospice, Duke Health and Wellness, and multiple affiliations.
Job Description
The Department of Radiation Oncology at Duke University is seeking motivated research technicians to assist in our efforts to find better treatments for patients with cancer. The position is intended to provide experimental support for work in the Reitman Lab. The goal of the Reitman Lab (https://radonc.duke.edu/re search/Reitman-lab) is to make discoveries that guide the design of improved treatment strategies for children and adults with brain tumors. We leverage molecular biology techniques, genetically engineered mouse models and cancer genomic approaches to carry out our work. We are interested in several research themes, including:
(1) using primary genetically engineered mouse models of pediatric and adult brain tumors to study mechanisms of tumorigenesis, mechanisms of treatment resistance, and candidate therapeutic strategies
(2) identifying new therapeutic dependencies associated with frequent cancer mutations
(3) identifying methods to increase the efficacy and decrease toxicity of radiation therapy for brain tumor patients
(4) using single-cell genomic techniques to understand tumor heterogeneity, to define brain tumor lineage of origin, and to improve diagnosis and treatment for brain tumor patients
The hiring laboratory is embedded within a rich environment including numerous research technicians,PhD and MD/PhD students, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty.
Competitive applicants will have received an undergraduate degree by the start of employment, will have prior experience in lab research, will be intellectually passionate and able to display scientific initiative.
Occupational Summary (duties may include some or all of the following):
1) Maintaining any mouse colony work you perform.
2) Perform PCR, RT-PCR and Western blots to characterize cell lines, tumor tissues, and mouse tissues.
3) For some of our experiments, a group of mice will need to be assessed each day including weekends. This responsibility will be shared between you and other members of the lab.
4) Meet or communicate by e-mail with your physician-scientist supervisor on a regular basis to plan experiments, troubleshoot problems, and discuss results.
5) Participate in regular lab meetings to discuss results or articles in the literature.
6) Assist in recruiting new lab members by telling them about the lab and your research.
7) Help maintain reagents or equipment in the laboratory with specific jobs (which might include tasks like making cell dissociation buffer, 70% ethanol, etc.).
8) Help provide a collegial environment for the laboratory.
9) Set up instruments, materials, and apparatus and operate standard laboratory equipment required for specific tests.
10) Propagate cells in cell culture and perform in vitro viability assays and clonogenic assays.
11) Prepare culture media, chemicals, reagents and solutions. Assist in the development of new research procedures and techniques.
12) Request vacation 30 or more days in advance or upon discussion with the supervisor.
For further details, or to submit an application, please go to:
Minimum Qualifications
Education
Work generally requires a bachelor's degree in botany, biology, zoology, psychology or other directly related scientific field.
Experience
None required above education/training requirement. OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE
Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.
Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.