Senior Research Technician

Senior Research Technician

This position is for the Division of Genetic and Genomic Medicine within the Department of Pediatrics. Equivalent relevant work experience may be substituted for degree requirement. This position is located at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh in Lawrenceville, PA. PA Child Abuse History Clearance, PA State Police Criminal Record Check, and FBI Criminal Record Check will be required prior to the start of employment. Also, a current TB test will be required as a condition of employment. EEO/AA/M/F/Vets/Disabled.

Brief Job Duties:

• The Research Technician IV will support preclinical therapeutic development for PDHA1-related pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency (PDCD), a mitochondrial disorder of carbohydrate oxidation associated with significant morbidity and mortality.
• Responsibilities include culturing and maintaining genotype-defined cellular models (including patient fibroblasts, pseudodiploid neuronal cell lines, induced pluripotent stem cells [iPSCs], and differentiated neuronal and glial systems); conducting biochemical, molecular biology, and pharmacology experiments; performing enzyme activity, metabolic flux, and mitochondrial function assays (e.g., Seahorse analyses); assisting with compound screening and characterization; supporting mouse colony management and phenotyping studies; maintaining detailed research records; analyzing data; and contributing to manuscript and grant preparation.
• The position requires independent experimental execution, troubleshooting of complex protocols, and close collaboration with multidisciplinary teams in computational chemistry, medicinal chemistry, mitochondrial biology, and translational neuroscience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in biology, biochemistry, neuroscience, pharmacology, or a related field with at least three years of relevant research experience (or an equivalent combination of education and experience). A Master's degree in a related discipline is desirable.
• Prior experience with mammalian cell culture, molecular biology, metabolic assays, and/or mouse models is preferred.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills are essential.

The successful candidate will be a collaborative, detail-oriented, and highly motivated individual who is eager to learn, capable of working independently, and enthusiastic about contributing to a multidisciplinary research program spanning drug discovery, cellular neuroscience, mitochondrial biology, and translational animal studies.