Histology Core Services Technician

The Histology Core Services Technician (Life Science Technician 2) will provide histology services and technical support to research groups across the Department of Ophthalmology. Responsibilities include managing incoming sample requests, preparing histological samples and slides, performing immunostaining, capturing microscopic images, and operating and maintaining histology equipment. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with investigators and research staff to support diverse research projects, ensure high-quality and reproducible results, and facilitate efficient histology workflows across the department. We are committed to building a diverse team and invite candidates from any background who bring practical technical skills, hands-on experience, and a readiness to grow in a dynamic environment. 

Specific duties include:

• Independently prepare and process frozen and paraffin-embedded tissue samples for histological analysis; perform immunostaining to label specific cellular structures, proteins, or markers; and use microscopy to capture and evaluate images. Assess tissue quality, staining specificity, and image clarity; troubleshoot technical issues; and select representative, high-quality images for quantitative analysis, interpretation of experimental results, and publication in scientific manuscripts
• Evaluate technical challenges, troubleshoot experimental issues, and adapt procedures based on tissue characteristics, staining performance, and desired outcomes. Document methods to support reproducibility and prepare detailed descriptions of research methodologies for inclusion in scientific publications. Makes procedural changes, such as when to modify a technique or alter the physical environment of a sample for improved results. May make procedural adjustments to achieve correct data and results.
• Maintain laboratory compliance with chemical safety, fire safety, and applicable institutional health and safety regulations. Monitor laboratory practices and safety requirements, identify potential compliance issues, and coordinate with the health and safety department to address deficiencies and implement corrective measures. Ensure required safety procedures and training requirements are communicated and followed in accordance with institutional policies
• Maintain and monitor the operational condition of histology laboratory equipment, identify maintenance needs or equipment malfunctions, and coordinate with the supervisor to arrange necessary repairs. Manage inventory of chemicals, consumables, and histology supplies by monitoring stock levels, anticipating research needs, and coordinating replenishment to ensure uninterrupted laboratory operations. Maintain an organized and functional laboratory environment to support ongoing research activities.
• Coordinates the use of the histology lab by other research personnel as needed for experiments

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Demonstrated experience independently preparing histological slides from frozen and paraffin-embedded tissue samples, performing immunostaining, and capturing microscopic images. 
• Hands-on experience operating histology equipment, including cryostats, microtomes, brightfield and fluorescence microscopes. 
• Experience with TEM sample preparation (strongly preferred)
• Experience processing and preparing ophthalmic tissue samples for histological analysis.
   

Core Duties:

• Perform animal surgical techniques such as suturing, catheterization and infusion of arteries, small organ dissection, organ perfusion and tumor implantation and passage in small animals.
• Immunohistological procedures including frozen sectioning and multi-step immunologic staining for fluorescence or enzymatic detection. Some level of histologic assessment may be required.
• Maintenance, transfer and establishment of cell lines from normal or tumor cells, preparation and bioassay of serum, screening for contamination, isolation of cell mutants, cell staining, mass production of cells and cell cloning.
• Fixation, dehydration, staining and embedding of specimens for electron microscopy; carbon coating, negative staining, shadowing, operation of electron microscope (EM) either transmission or scanning; use of an ultramicrotome with a diamond knife for routine thin sectioning; alignment of an EM where the system is automated.
• Purification and /or structural characterization of compounds for which a protocol is well established.
• Separation of cells, organelles, or molecules using density gradients.
• Radioimmunoassay of viruses, proteins, or hormone levels in cell extract according to established protocol.
• Techniques such as electrophoresis, chromatography, autoradiography, radiolabeling of animals, cell cultures, or macromolecules.
• Isolation, purification and maintenance of mammalian viruses and bacteriophages; determination of viral concentration.
• Genetic manipulation of bacteria including mutagenesis, ‘phage transduction and transformation.
• Accurate documentation of experimental protocols and basic statistical analysis of data.
   

Minimum Education and Experience

Two years of laboratory experience or two years of college coursework in the scientific discipline a combination of equivalent education and relevant work experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Work at the Life Science Technician II level requires experience and ability beyond that required for the Life Science Technician I, including increased technical skills and problem-solving abilities.