Research Technician

Weekdays, although occasional night or weekend work may be needed.

To learn more about the pay band for this branch and role, please see the Career Banding rates spreadsheet.

A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation's top public universities. Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.

One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.

University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package, paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance.

The Department of Biology at UNC-Chapel Hill is dedicated to the discovery and dissemination of new and existing knowledge in the broad discipline of Biology by maintaining a high-quality faculty who integrate cutting-edge research and student-focused teaching.We are one of the largest academic departments in the College of Arts and Sciences. We have over 2,800 majors and we enroll over 5,000 undergraduate students in our classes each year. Our average total annual expenditure exceeds $24 million, with nearly half of that coming from grant sponsored research. The department is composed of 50 tenure-track faculty, 10 teaching faculty, 8 research faculty, and numerous active adjunct and emeritus faculty. We currently have 50 graduate students, 40 post-docs and employ approximately 60 additional graduate and undergraduate students from across the university to assist in our teaching and research missions. Further, we are supported by an administrative staff of 20, with an additional 20 staff directly supporting research.

The Research Technician will learn and implement standard procedures to carry out genetic and cell biological experiments using the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster as a model. These experiments will be designed by Dr. Peifer along with senior PhD students or postdoctoral fellows in his lab. The technician will employ standard genetic crosses to generate and select animals of the correct genotype, and then will examine the phenotype of progeny using immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. They will analyze these data, using computational tools like Fiji and Photoshop, as instructed by Dr. Peifer and his senior PhD students or postdoctoral fellows. The Research Technician will assist in training undergraduate assistants and postbaccalaureate students in the maintenance of the lab's hundreds of Drosophila stocks. The technician will also assist in training new lab members on limited, routine processes involving established SOP's. New lab personnel include undergraduates and graduate students. The technician is expected to communicate with Dr. Peifer and other lab members, ensuring that items running low or new regents required are reordered and replenished. It is expected that the technician will keep a neat and complete lab notebook detailing all experiments and other lab activities. This is a two-year time-limited position.

Demonstrated possession of the competencies necessary to perform the work.

The ability to work well with other lab members and undergraduate students, and the ability to work and communicate well with other lab members and undergraduate students is a necessity. Requires a high level of organizational skills, as well as thorough documentation skills. The Research Tech must have a mastery of existing protocols and learn and apply new protocols to the research.

This job requires opening and moving boxes up to 25lbs, which will be performed for about half an hour daily.

Not Applicable.

If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the Office of Human Resources at (919) 843-2300 or send an email to employment@unc.edu

Please note: The Office of Human Resources will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, race, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran.