The Institute
The Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) is an international biomedical research institute of excellence, based in Barcelona, Spain, with more than 400 scientists from 44 countries. The CRG is composed of an interdisciplinary, motivated, and creative scientific team supported by a flexible and efficient administration and high-end innovative technologies. In April 2021, the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) received the renewal of the 'HR Excellence in Research' Award from the European Commission, recognizing the Institute's commitment to developing an HR Strategy for Researchers, designed to align practices and procedures with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (Charter and Code).
The role
The position provides an opportunity to play a central role in the experimental work of our team. We are looking for a Research Technician to carry out a mouse experiment that is central to our line of research on Indirect Genetic Effects. In this experiment, we investigate the mechanisms (behavioral and otherwise) whereby the genotype of one mouse influences several phenotypes of the other mouse in the cage (see doi: 10.1186/s13059-021-02415-x for background on the project).
You will be the main person in charge of that experiment and will work under the direct supervision of the group leader. You will collaborate with a PhD student in the lab, who will also contribute to the experiment and use the data for part of their PhD project. Additionally, you will be supported by other experienced technicians from the animal facility.
Your duties will include maintaining five mouse lines, ensuring the welfare of the animals, carrying out video-recorded behavioral assays, watching these videos to label behaviors using appropriate software, extracting relevant tissues (brain, ears), and analyzing ear punches with ImageJ.
In addition, you will be responsible for the following tasks related to the experiment:
Ordering equipment and consumablesManaging lab wasteDefrosting the freezers and keeping samples organized About the team
The team consists of computational and experimental scientists working in the field of quantitative genetics. We investigate 1) genetic effects arising from the genes of social partners (Indirect Genetic Effects) and 2) host/microbiome interactions. We are a diverse team and support the development of each team member through regular meetings (as a group and with the group leader) focused on professional development. We also encourage attendance to the many excellent courses offered by the CRG, the PRBB, etc. (both for technical and soft skills).
Whom would we like to hire?
Professional experience Must Have: 5-10 years of experience working with laboratory miceProven experience maintaining mouse coloniesProven experience documenting data/keeping records in relatively large experiments (e.g., records of mouse colonies)Desirable but not required: Experience running behavioral assaysExperience collecting brain samplesExperience analyzing experimental data using basic techniques (e.g., Excel, or ImageJ, or any other software) Education and training Bachelor's degree in a biology-related areaBasic knowledge in geneticsBasic knowledge in experimental psychology/animal behaviorCurrently valid accreditation to carry out animal research functions a, b, and c with laboratory mice Languages Fluent in EnglishProficiency in Spanish would be a plus Technical skills Maintaining a mouse colony (must have)Monitoring and ensuring animal welfare (must have)Running behavioral assays (would be a plus)Extracting relevant tissues, in particular brain (would be a plus)Proficiency with Excel (must have)Keeping thorough and accurate records of animals/data (must have) Competences Excellent project management skills: planning the schedule of experiments, problem-solving, keeping detailed and accurate records, organizing samplesGood time management skillsAbility to work in a systematic/reproducible manner: following protocols closely, paying attention to detailGood communication skills, both orally and in written form (protocols/data/results presented clearly) and an interest in developing them together with the team The Offer - Working Conditions Contract duration: Open-ended linked to the project duration, estimated 2 yearsEstimated annual gross salary: Salary is commensurate with qualifications and consistent with our pay scalesTarget start date: as soon as possibleWe provide a highly stimulating environment with state-of-the-art infrastructures and unique professional career development opportunities. To check out our training and development portfolio, please visit our website.
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