Laboratory Technician

Axle is looking to add a driven, flexible, organized, and meticulous Laboratory Technician to our dynamic team. The Contractor(s) shall provide services in support of the overall functions of the Division of Intramural Research (DIR), Laboratory of Virology (LV). 

• Perform a wide variety of procedures and techniques, including but not limited to: cell culture, clinical/diagnostic microbiology, DNA analysis, isolation, purification, sequencing, ELISA, flow cytometry, gene cloning, protein analysis, and RNA isolation.

• Work with animals in a BSL4 environment.

• Perform general lab management tasks, including laboratory upkeep, routine maintenance of equipment, and maintaining laboratory supplies and equipment such as chemicals, biological materials, and other reagents. Handle biological materials, carcinogens, recombinant protein materials, acids, biological wastes, etc. Maintain workbenches and equipment related to projects. Catalog and label laboratory samples. Assist in maintaining and organizing the inventory of samples, metadata, laboratory supplies, and reagents. Liaise with vendors as needed.

• Maintain detailed records of experiments and their results, and prepare findings and results for laboratory-wide meetings and publication.

• Write reports of findings, including methods, procedures (with any modifications), specimens, materials involved, and results. Maintain laboratory records. Interpret, evaluate, and discuss experimental results with the supervisor as part of planning subsequent studies.

• Operate and communicate effectively in a group, team-oriented working environment. Collaborate with colleagues in a collegial, open, respectful, and interactive manner to generate data for publications.

• Assist the Federal Task Leader in analyzing and interpreting data, and prepare summaries of laboratory findings for reports and papers, such as papers to be published in scientific journals.

• Be willing to learn principles of molecular biology, genetics, systems biology, and immunology.

• Perform quality control for the laboratory.

• Generate laboratory records to support research and independently perform necessary calculations.

• Bachelor’s degree in biology or a related discipline is required.

• Minimum of 2–3 years of work experience in a laboratory setting.

• Effective communication skills for working in a team environment.

• Willingness and ability to work flexible hours as experimental needs require.

• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (MS Word, Excel, Outlook).

• Strong communications skills, both oral and written.

• Excellent organizational and time management skills.