Lab/Research Technician - Microbiology and Immunology

Advertising Summary: Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine is a premier academic medical center located in the heart of Richmond. Accounting for almost half of VCU’s sponsored research, the School of Medicine is internationally recognized for patient care and education. Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity employer.

Unit: School Of Medicine MBU

Department: Microbiology and Immunology

Department Summary: Located on the MCV Campus in downtown Richmond, the Department of Microbiology and Immunology is home to a vibrant community of researchers, educators and learners. With a strong history of research funding, our department strives to advance scientific knowledge in the biomedical sciences and inform medical advancements that improve patient outcomes. Our innovative studies span a broad spectrum of areas within the fields of microbiology and immunology:

Allergy and autoimmunity
Host-pathogen interactions and molecular pathogenesis
Human microbiome science and microbial genomics
Reproductive immunology
T-cell therapy and vaccine development
Tumor biology, cell signaling and epigenetics

As educators, we are proud to provide a collaborative, collegial learning environment for our students. Faculty and postdoctoral fellows serve as dedicated mentors, providing an individualized educational experience and shaping the next generation of successful scientists.

Duties & Responsibilities:

The Brown Laboratory is seeking a full-time research technician to help establish and execute a new research program which uses a systems immunology approach to study the resolution of inflammation. The technician will work directly with Dr. Eric Brown and other laboratory members on mechanistic studies of lipids in extracellular vesicles and how they reprogram mouse and human immune cells to be anti-inflammatory, with a focus on studying chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, such as spondyloarthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. This position combines hands on experimental work with some added responsibility to contribute to the day-to-day operation of a growing laboratory.

The successful candidate will receive training in the laboratory's methods and will have opportunities to develop technical independence, contribute to experimental design, present data in laboratory meetings, and earn authorship on manuscripts. The position is well suited to an enthusiastic, self-directed scientist seeking two or more years of intensive research experience before graduate, medical, or other professional training, as well as to any scientist seeking increasing responsibility or exciting new projects.

Research Program

The laboratory studies the immunogenetic and lipidomic mechanisms which govern inflammation resolution. Current projects aim to decipher how sphingolipids in extracellular vesicles and sterol metabolism reprogram immune cells to be anti-inflammatory, as well as studying HLA-I disease biology. We will be using mouse models to study how defects in these pathways contribute to chronic inflammatory or autoimmune diseases such as spondyloarthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.

Core Responsibilities:

Experimental Work

• Isolate, culture, stimulate, and analyze primary human and mouse immune cells, as well as established mammalian cell lines
• Perform multicolor flow cytometry and cell-based functional assays to characterize immune cell populations and cytokine secretion
• Conduct molecular and biochemical assays such as PCR, RT qPCR, ELISA, CRISPR gene editing, siRNA transfections, immunoblotting, and nucleic acid and protein preparation
• Assist with isolation and characterization of extracellular vesicles such as bacterial outer membrane vesicles using HPLC and ultracentrifugation, with training provided as needed
• Support intestinal epithelial, organoid, or immune-epithelial co-culture experiments as these platforms are established in the laboratory
• Follow written protocols, identify technical problems, communicate unexpected results promptly, and help refine assays for reproducibility
• Assist with breeding, colony tracking, and health monitoring, for our mouse lines
• Perform or learn about harvesting and preparation of mouse immune, bone marrow and intestinal tissues for flow cytometry, histology, molecular assays, and ex vivo culture
• Assist with inflammatory disease models, including chemically induced colitis, in accordance with approved protocols and after required training.
• Maintain complete animal records and comply with VCU animal care and biosafety requirements.

Laboratory Operations

• Maintain inventories of reagents, samples, cell lines, plasmids, antibodies, and frozen stocks and help monitor critical supplies and initiate orders before materials are depleted.
• Prepare common buffers, media, and reagents, maintain clean and organized shared work areas and coordinate routine maintenance of laboratory equipment
• Receive and organize shipments, communicate with vendors, and help track purchase and service records
• Data Records and Team Support
• Maintain a complete, timely, and reproducible electronic laboratory notebook and organized raw-data files
• Perform basic data analysis and visualization using software such as FlowJo, Excel, GraphPad Prism, and AI-assisted tools where appropriate
• Present experimental updates in laboratory meetings and assist with figures, method documentation, and data summaries
• Coordinate time-sensitive experiments with other laboratory members and train new members in established procedures after demonstrating proficiency

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required
• Bachelor's degree in Biology, preferably in microbiology, immunology, biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience
• Hands-on experience in a biomedical research setting beyond standard teaching laboratories, gained through employment, an internship, or sustained undergraduate research
• Competence with basic laboratory techniques, including accurate pipetting, solution preparation, sterile technique, and laboratory safety
• Ability to follow detailed protocols, perform calculations, organize multiple experiments, and maintain accurate records
• Basic computer skills for data management, spreadsheets, word processing, and scientific communication
• Dependability, attention to detail, sound judgment, and willingness to ask questions when procedures or results are unclear
• Ability to communicate effectively and work both independently and collaboratively
• Willingness and ability to work with human blood-derived specimens, mammalian cell culture, biohazardous materials, and laboratory mice after required training
• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU

Preferred Qualifications

• At least one year of research experience in an academic, clinical, biotechnology, or pharmaceutical laboratory
• Experience with mammalian cell culture or working with primary human or mouse immune cells
• Experience with multicolor flow cytometry
• Experience with bacterial culture techniques
• Experience with PCR, RT qPCR, ELISAs, or related molecular and biochemical methods.
• Experience with working with mice in any capacity

Salary Range: $41,600-$46,000

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status: Non-Exempt

Hours per Week: 40

Restricted Position: Yes

ORP Eligible: No

Flexible Work Arrangement: Fully Onsite

University Job Title: 34051-34053 - Lab/Research Technician 1-3

Contact Information:

Contact Email: SOMHR@vcuhealth.org