Research Lab Technician

The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, located at USC Keck School of Medicine, is seeking a full-time Research Laboratory Technician to join our research team of highly skilled senior research associates, technicians, and faculty researchers. Under the direction of Principal Investigators, our research studies focus on peptidic effectors of mammalian innate immunity for drug development.

The laboratory employs an array of general scientific laboratory research practices and procedures, including molecular biology, protein biochemistry, enzyme kinetics, immune signaling pathways, microbiology, and animal models for acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. Under direct supervision, he/she will be performing in vitro (cell culture) and in vivo (rodent) experiments to evaluate physiologic and molecular effects and mechanisms of peptidic agents. He/she will be testing a library of synthetic peptides for their immunomodulatory properties in infection and inflammatory disease models.

The Research Lab Technician will assist in animal experiments including peptide treatments while collecting data for clinical/in-life presentation of disease (i.e., survivability, weight gain/loss, disease severity, mortality, and/or morbidity), post-mortem indicators of disease (i.e., bacterial or fungal burden). He/she will be responsible for obtaining, maintaining, and graphing of data. The technician will assist in the inoculation of rodents with pathogens by intraperitoneal or intravenous injections, and he/she will assist in drug treatment or placebos to infected animals, harvest organs, assist in collecting blood and enumerate bacterial/fungal load as a function of peptide treatment. In our inflammatory disease models, maintaining a rodent colony, measuring weights, and recording visual observations may be employed. The candidate is required to complete animal tutorial training and receive certification in general laboratory safety before any work is performed in the laboratory.

Flexible hours will be required.

Previous general scientific laboratory research practices and rodent animal handling are preferred for this position.

This is a grant-funded position.

The University offers a competitive salary and benefit package.

Hourly range:

The hourly rate range for this position is $22.43 - $31.30. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

Minimum Education: High school or equivalent, Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education Minimum Experience: 6 - 12 months, Combined education/experience as substitute for minimum experience Minimum Field of Expertise: Ability to follow detailed instructions, oral and written