FLSA: Hourly

Job Summary: As a Research Specialist I, the hire will work with primary cardiac cell culture. They will perform isolation and culturing of cells under various conditions. They will provide technical support for a study that investigates characterizing cardiac fibroblast phenotype in heart failure.

Payscale Salary Range: UNIV-Band 4: $28,216.00 - $40,210.00 - $52,204.00 (min - mid - max)

Job Duties: 

• 35% - Primary culture of cardiac cells and biochemical analysis of protein production. The position will primarily include the culture of cardiac cells including primary isolation and propagation. Previous experience with sterile technique is preferred. Position also includes biochemical analysis of protein production including western blot analysis. - (Essential)
• 35% - Immunohistochemical analysis and quantification in myocardial sections. Organization of tissue samples and plasma profiling. The position will include fixation and sectioning of myocardial tissue. Histochemical, immunohistochemical, and immunofluorescence of sections will be performed. Quantification of stained slides will also be performed. - (Essential)
• 30% - Maintain supply inventory for lab and keep lab in clean and organized fashion. General lab maintenance will be included in the position including maintaining lab inventory, maintenance of lab equipment, organization of tissue samples, and data preparation. - (Essential)

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements: A high school diploma and two years work experience in a clinical or research setting; a bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, or other natural, life or health care science may be substituted for the two years of required experience. 

• Experience with protein and nucleic acid isolation, Protein Assays, PCR, cell culture, immunoblotting, or ELISA is preferred.
• Willingness to learn new techniques is required.
• Be able to work with Students, Postdocs and Faculty on multiple projects
• The PIs will be readily available and will meet with the technician frequently (multiple times/day). There are written protocols for all procedures. The position is highly independent and should be able to carry-out multiple projects at one time.
• Must meet MUSC physical Requirements for Research Scientist I. No overnight travel. Some weekends and after hours work as needed to meet project deadlines or maintain ongoing studies over the weekend.

Physical Requirements: Ability to perform job functions in an upright position. (Frequent) Ability to perform job functions in a seated position. (Continuous) Ability to perform job functions while walking/mobile. (Frequent) Ability to climb, using step stool. (Infrequent) Ability to work in temperature extremes (32? F to 100? F) when required due to assignments in cold rooms and/or foreign countries. (Infrequent) Ability to work in confined/cramped spaces. (Continuous) Ability to bend at the waist. (Frequent) Ability to twist at the waist. (Frequent) Ability to fully use both hands/arms. (Continuous) Ability to perform repetitive motions with hands/wrists/elbows and shoulders. (Frequent) Ability to fully use both legs. (Frequent) Ability to reach in all directions, stretch, bend, while moving items/materials from both sitting and standing positions. (Frequent) Ability to maintain good olfactory sensory function/distinction. (Continuous) Ability to lift materials up to 20 lbs., unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to lift and carry 4 liter waste material bottles a distance of 30 feet, unassisted. (Frequent) Ability to lift and carry 25-30 lbs. jugs of liquid a distance of 100 feet, unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to lift file boxes, from floor level to counter tops, unassisted. (Frequent) Ability to push/ Ability to lift 40 lbs. centrifuge rotors from floor level to height of 40 inches, then down 20 inches into centrifuge drum, unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to lift 25 lbs. boxes, from floor level to maximum height of 72 inches, unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to push/pull file boxes from one location to another at floor level. (Frequent) Ability to maneuver heavy equipment on bench tops, 50 lbs. or greater, unassisted. (Frequent) Ability to perform gross motor functions with frequent fine motor movements. (Continuous) Ability to maintain 20/20 vision, corrected. (Continuous) Ability to match or discriminate between colors, normally. (Continuous) Ability to hear and recognize various alarms emitting from work area systems. (Continuous) Ability to hear and/or understand conversations. (Continuous) Ability to work in a darkroom for processing film, etc. (Continuous) Ability to be qualified physically for respirator use, initially and annually. (Continuous)