A Research technician position is available in the Department of Integrative Physiology at Baylor College of Medicine. Research in the lab uses molecular biology and protein biochemical techniques, confocal fluorescent imaging, and in-vitro force measurements to assess Ca2+ signaling, excitation-contraction coupling, and muscle force in skeletal muscle. The Research Technician will perform advanced, multi-step experimental procedures to support ongoing research in skeletal muscle physiology and related biochemical pathways. This role requires a high degree of technical independence, strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to coordinate complex experimental workflows across multiple days and collaborating laboratories. The technician will also provide technical oversight for specialized equipment and contribute to optimization and troubleshooting of experimental protocols.

Job Duties

• Independently manage day-to-day laboratory operations, including inventory tracking, procurement of supplies, and maintenance of laboratory organization and safety compliance.
• Oversee rodent colony management, including breeding strategies, genotyping, health monitoring, and compliance with institutional animal care protocols.
• Perform and optimize biochemical and molecular assays (e.g., protein analysis, histology), ensuring high reproducibility and data integrity.
• Diagnose and troubleshoot experimental and technical issues, including assay variability, equipment malfunction, and protocol deviations.
• Maintain detailed experimental records, analyze data trends, and communicate findings to laboratory personnel.
• Provide technical guidance and training to students, trainees, and junior staff on laboratory methods and best practices.
• Perform other related duties as assigned, consistent with the evolving needs of the research program.
• Independently harvest and process tissues using sterile and reproducible techniques, ensuring sample integrity for downstream analysis.
• Design, coordinate, and execute multi-day experimental workflows assessing skeletal muscle function, including:
  • Day 1: Measurement of contractile properties (e.g., force generation, fatigue resistance) using specialized muscle physiology equipment.
  • Day 2: Quantitative assessment of intracellular calcium dynamics and reactive oxygen species (ROS) using fluorescence microscopy and imaging-based assays.
• Coordinate experimental timelines and resource usage across collaborating laboratories to ensure alignment of shared instrumentation, reagents, and animal cohorts.
• Operate, calibrate, and maintain specialized instrumentation (e.g., muscle physiology rigs, fluorescence microscopes), ensuring optimal performance and reliability.
• Develop and refine imaging and functional assay protocols to improve sensitivity, throughput, and reproducibility.
• Analyze complex datasets derived from functional and imaging experiments and prepare summaries for presentation and publication.
• Identify and implement technical improvements to increase efficiency and consistency in experimental workflows.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a Basic Science or related field. Four years of related experience may substitute for degree requirement.
• One year of relevant experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in basic science or a related field.
• 1 year of animal handling preferred.