Research Technologist 3 - Lerner lab

Department: MED-Neuroscience
Salary/Grade: NEX/13

Target hiring range for this position will be between $23.20-$28.99 per hour. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Job Summary:

The technologist will perform stereotaxic surgeries, including viral delivery and implantation of optical fibers, and will coordinate and execute longitudinal photometry recordings alongside behavioral assays. Responsibilities include maintaining animal cohorts, ensuring high-quality data acquisition, and performing initial data processing and analysis. The role will also involve optimizing and troubleshooting experimental protocols, contributing to data management and reproducible workflows, and integrating neural and behavioral datasets to support rigorous testing of circuit-level hypotheses.

Specific Responsibilities:

Histology:

• Tissue fixation/processing: embedding, preparation of blocks and sectioning, staining
• Immunohistochemistry
• Microscopy

Animal:

• Husbandry
• Breeding and screening transgenic mice
• Dissections
• Blood collection
• Surgical procedures
• Database management of colony

Other

• Neural recordings
• Animal behavior

Administration

• Observes experiments, collects, records, summarizes, analyzes and interprets research data.
• Collates relevant mathematical results.
• Prepares complex tables reflecting relationships of multiple tests.
• Draws scientific conclusions.
• Writes portions of grant applications.
• Co-authors scientific papers.

Finance

• Negotiates purchases with vendors.
• Maintains and updates portions of grant budgets.
• Tracks and summarizes lab supply expenses.
• Verifies accuracy of invoices.
• Orders and/or maintains inventory of reagent, mice and/or lab supplies.

Supervision

• Trains and directs other lab EEs and/or students in research techniques and procedures.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in a scientific major or related; OR appropriate combination of education and experience and 3 years' lab/bench or other relevant experience required; OR
• Successful completion of a full course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a master's or higher degree in a scientific major or related; OR appropriate combination of education and experience and 1 year lab/bench or other relevant experience.

Benefits:

At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful and competitive benefits. The available benefits package for this position will include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; paid vacation and holidays; paid medical/sick and parental leave; tuition benefits for the employee and dependents; pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care; generous retirement savings options; and wellness programs. For a comprehensive overview of available benefits, including eligibility details, visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.

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