Job Description

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The laboratories of Drs. Camila dos Santos and Christopher Vakoc at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is seeking a highly motivated, organized, and technically skilled Shared Senior Research Services Technologist to provide advanced technical support in vivo research programs across both laboratories. This position will be shared between the two groups and will play an important role in establishing, maintaining, and executing murine studies in a collaborative and fast-paced research environment.

We are looking for a candidate with strong hands-on experience in murine work, excellent attention to detail, and the ability to manage complex colony and experimental workflows with care and precision. The ideal candidate will be dependable, proactive, and comfortable working closely with trainees, staff, and principal investigators across two dynamic laboratories.
This position offers the opportunity to contribute to complementary research programs in cancer biology, epigenetics, and disease modeling.

The dos Santos Lab studies how genetic and non-genetic factors, including pregnancy, inflammation, and aging, influence breast cancer risk and progression, with a strong emphasis on cancer prevention and interception. The Vakoc Lab focuses on chromatin regulation and transcriptional control in cancer, using functional genomics and in vivo models to identify therapeutic vulnerabilities. Together, these laboratories offer a research environment spanning tumor initiation, lineage regulation, epigenetics, and translational disease modeling.

The Senior Research Services Technologist will help build and support the in vivo infrastructure of both labs and will be expected to maintain high standards of technical rigor, organization, animal welfare, and regulatory compliance.

Key responsibilities:

• Manage murine colonies for two laboratories, including breeding, weaning, ear tagging, genotyping coordination, and accurate record keeping

• Perform routine husbandry and handling activities in accordance with institutional standards and approved protocols.

• Monitor murine health and communicate potential concerns promptly and appropriately

• Develop and execute breeding strategies for transgenic, knockout, and other genetically engineered murine models

• Perform experimental procedures in In vivo models, including injections, drug administration, dosing, euthanasia, tissue collection, and other in vivo techniques as needed

• Support tumor studies, transplantation experiments, treatment studies, and related murine workflows

• Perform necropsy, sample collection, and specimen processing for downstream analysis by laboratory members

• Monitor tumor growth, study timelines, and experimental cohorts, while maintaining clear and accurate study documentation

• Maintain cage cards, colony records, study logs, sample tracking, and other required documentation for assigned work

• Assist with development, implementation, and maintenance of standard operating procedures and organizational systems for m-based work

• Coordinate with institutional murine resources staff and maintain compliance with IACUC protocols and all relevant husbandry care and use regulations

• Monitor and maintain inventories of murine-related reagents, supplies, PPE, and equipment needed for ongoing studies

• Help establish efficient workflows as both laboratories grow

• Assist with training and guiding newer lab members in standard mouse handling procedures and murine workflow practices where appropriate
  

Minimum Education and/or Training:

• High School Diploma/GED required.

• Associate's/Bachelor's degree in Lab Murine Science, Biology, Toxicology, or Agricultural preferred.

Minimum Experience:

• Minimum requirement: 5+ years of experience in a professional murine care facility (e.g, zoo, veterinary clinic, laboratory murine facility) with High School Diploma/GED.

• Experience Exception: 4+ years of experience with Associate's degree

• Experience Exception: 2+ years of experience with Bachelor's degree.

• Prior experience within the ARC unit (e.g., murine handling and restraint; murine health monitoring; operation and sanitization/sterilization of equipment; sample collection) preferred.

• Experience working with applicable regulations and policies regarding In Vivo research(e.g., ILAR Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Murine, USDA Welfare Act and Regulations) preferred.

• Experience working with ARC or comparable software systems and databases for maintenance/review of documentation/records preferred.

• Proven performance in earlier role/ comparable role

Licensure or certification required:

• ALAT certification required within 18 months

• Laboratory Murine Technician (LAT) preferred.

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience breeding and maintaining transgenic or knockout murine strains

• Experience with genotyping workflows and colony tracking systems

• Experience with tumor studies, transplantation experiments, drug dosing, or treatment studies in murine

• Experience with tissue harvesting, necropsy, blood collection, or biospecimen collection

• Experience with anesthesia, euthanasia, or specialized injection techniques

• Familiarity with biosafety procedures, PPE requirements, and institutional murine compliance standards

This position would be well suited for someone who enjoys in vivo research, takes pride in careful and well-organized experimental work, and wants to play a central role in supporting two ambitious and collaborative cancer biology laboratories. Senior Research Services Technologist will be an important partner in helping both groups carry out rigorous and efficient animal-based studies.

Compensation

In recognition of certain U.S. state and municipal pay transparency laws, St. Jude is including a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This is an estimate offered in good faith and a specific salary offer takes into account factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the salary range and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current salary range is $24.00 - $42.00 per hour for the role of Shared Sr Research Services Technologist- Santos and Vakoc Labs.

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St. Jude is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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