This Biology technician has responsibility for preparing tissue and sectioning material for the manufacture of educational slides as assigned by the team supervisor. Performance will be assessed based upon both the quality of the finished slide and the efficiency of slide making.
Requirements
Science degree required
Experience in slide making a plus. Must be well organized, able to handle multiple projects, and be an effective team player.
Knowledge of general lab procedures including staining - to be able to troubleshoot problems with procedures as they arise - normally partially acquired in college laboratory and lecture courses in biology, partially on the job as a laboratory technician.
Ability to analyze a problem to isolate the source of difficulty and fix it - to be able to troubleshoot problems with procedures as they arise - partially acquired in laboratory courses, partially experience in and out of laboratory.
Knowledge of general laboratory safety and hazardous chemicals - to be able to work in a laboratory without creating hazards to self and others - partially acquired in college courses, most directly in company safety training class, partially on the job.
Ability to independently plan and organize time - to be able to meet laboratory production goals - partially education, mostly experience in and out of laboratory.
High level of motor skill, manual dexterity, and patience - to be able to produce slides by manipulating very small and delicate tissues - this is learned through extensive experience and requires innate skills. Some people can never learn to make the more difficult slides.
Basic computer skills including word processing, familiarity with windows 98 and 2000. Customer service abilities including friendliness, a positive attitude, and phone etiquette
How you will thrive
The Biology technician has responsibility for preparing tissue and sectioning material for the manufacture of educational slides as assigned by the team supervisor. Performance will be assessed based upon both the quality of the finished slide and the efficiency of slide making.
Control microtome and other technical equipment
Includes checking section quality throughout process and adjusting as necessary
Affix specimens to glass
Must meet technical criteria of placement and orientation
Stain specimens
Must follow and adjust all steps to achieve technical criteria of displaying critical structures for teaching. Quality is checked throughout process
Permanently mount specimens
Must be achieved without introducing air. Quality is checked throughout process
Investigates and determines how to solve problems in production or quality
Collaborates with expeditor and Sr. Techs to satisfy acute customer needs
Plans ways and decides how to satisfy production/quality goals
Investigate and interpret specimen structure and quality
(Trial specimens)
Must determine plane of section, suitability for teaching biology, determine specific usage
Maintains order and supplies personal lab space and participates in recycling program and maintenance of shared equipment
ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL EFFORT (Under Typical Positions)
Typically works in an office environment with adequate lighting and ventilation and a normal range of temperature and noise level.
Work assignments are diversified. Examples of past precedent are used to resolve work problems. New alternatives may be developed to resolve problems.
A frequent volume of work and deadlines impose strain on routine basis.
Minimal physical effort is required. Work is mostly sedentary but does require walking, standing, bending, reaching, lifting or carrying objects that typically weigh less than 10 lbs.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, efforts or working conditions associated with a job.
Vwr · West Henrietta, NY