Assistant Research Technologist

Dedicated exclusively to children and their families, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is one of the largest and most respected paediatric healthcare centres in the world. As innovators in child health, we lead and partner to improve the health of children through the integration of healthcare, leading-edge research and education. Our reputation would not have been built - nor could it be maintained - without the skills, knowledge and experience of the extraordinary people who come to work here every day. SickKids is committed to ongoing learning and development, and features a caring and supportive work environment that combines exceptionally high standards of practice.

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TCR002 Assistant Research Technologist

We are recruiting an Assistant Research Technologist to facilitate daily laboratory operations and provide technical support to trainees working on several interrelated projects. Our laboratory is part of the Developmental, Stem Cell and Cancer Biology at SickKids Research Institute and focuses broadly on the role of mRNA translation in tissue development, regeneration and disease. The laboratory utilizes axolotls, mice and in vitro models and provides an ideal opportunity for talented graduates with a BSc or MSc in molecular biology or related disciplines to gain hands-on experience and substantively contribute to research as they prepare for the next step of their career.

The job requires a highly organized and responsible individual who can work independently and as a member of a team. As an Assistant Research Technologist you will report to the Principal Investigator and work directly with a team of post-doctoral fellows and graduate students to provide direct experimental support to allow scaling two project areas: (1) generation and characterization of genetically modified cell lines for drug-testing and modeling of patient-specific mutations and (2) husbandry support and analysis of mouse models of disease. You will also oversee the daily organization and operation of the laboratory, including ordering supplies, setting up equipment, managing inventory, preparing solutions, providing training to new personnel and ensuring compliance with laboratory safety procedures.

Both in vitro and in vivo analysis is broadly focused on the mTOR signaling pathway with a specific focus on modeling and characterizing patient-specific mutations associated with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex ' a rare genetic condition characterized by mTOR hyperactivation. Previous experience in generating genetically modified cell lines (via CRISPR/Cas9 or similar) including transfection, clone selection, expansion and characterization through a variety of assays (western blot, ELISA, qPCR, flow cytometry, immunofluorescent staining, reporter assays) is a strong asset for this project as is prior experience with library preparation for next-generation sequencing (i.e. single-cell or bulk mRNA sequencing or similar) and bioinformatics analysis. Experience with characterization and husbandry of mouse models is a strong asset.

Here's What You'll Get To Do:

• Manage ordering of reagents and equipment
• Cataloguing, ordering and maintaining inventory of common laboratory reagents, animals and equipment
• Ensuring laboratory tidiness, safety and compliance
• Help to train incoming students in key molecular biology techniques
• Ensure safe use of core laboratory instruments
• Be responsible for accuracy of techniques, using established policies and procedures to resolve routine problems
• Overseeing maintenance of the mouse colony, including breeding, genotyping and harvesting tissue for phenotypic and molecular characterization
• Contribute to research in the laboratory as part of a larger team projects, specifically by supporting the generation and characterization of genetically modified cell lines through in vitro assays and phenotypic analysis in mouse models of mTOR hyperactivation

Here's What You'll Need:

• Bachelor of Science degree
• Excellent organization and communication skills
• Willingness to accept responsibility and develop management skills
• Willingness to learn and apply new skills and to interface with experts and instructors within and outside Sick Kids
• Ability to work with others and to assist or train junior lab personnel
• Experience with Word/Excel, Google Docs/Sheets or equivalent products, willingness to learn and implement new software packages for laboratory organization and data analysis
• A minimum of two years of experience in an industry or academic research setting
• Hands-on experience working with mouse models of disease, including experience in basic husbandry, genotyping, breeding, perfusion, intraperitoneal injection, oral gavage, tissue harvesting and analysis
• Significant experience with tissue culture of transformed or primary cell lines, mouse or human induced or pluripotent stem cells.
• Demonstrate commitment and actions in advancing equity, diversity and inclusion objectives.

Preferred Requirements:

• Experience with HEK293T, HEK293E, HAP1 or other cell types, including mESCs or iPSCs, is highly preferred
• Substantial experience in analysis of cells or tissues by western blot, qPCR, immunofluorescent staining, flow cytometry or mass spectrometry
• Substantial experience in genetic engineering of cells with CRISPR/Cas9 and related technologies
• Substantial experience with protein purification
• Experience with bacterial cloning and development of reporter assays
• Experience with library preparation for next-generation sequencing analysis of DNA or mRNA
• Experience with bioinformatics (including R or Python) or biostatistics

How to Apply

Please provide a resume and a cover letter describing your interest in this position and provide a point-form summary of your specific qualifications for this position. Please do not apply directly to the lab.

Employment Type:

• 1.00 FTE, contract with modified benefits (health and dental)
• 35 hrs/week
• on-site

SickKids is committed to championing equity, diversity and inclusion in all that we do, fostering an intentionally inclusive and culturally safe environment that reflects the diversity of the patients, families and communities we serve. Learn more about workplace inclusion.

If you require accommodation during the application process, please reach out to our aSKHR team. SickKids can provide access and inclusion supports to eligible candidates to support their full engagement during the interview and selection process as well as to ensure candidates are able to perform their duties once successfully hired. If you are invited for an interview and require accommodation, please let us know at the time of your invitation to interview. Information received related to access, inclusion or accommodation will be addressed confidentially.

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