RESEARCH PROFESSIONAL I

Requires technical knowledge in the field acquired through an apprenticeship, a 2-year degree, or professional certificate. Please contact your Human Resources office for an evaluation of education/experience in lieu of the required minimum qualifications.

Works independently and with others to design and develop components of on average five to eight ongoing projects, and provides supervision and guidance for graduate students, veterinary students, and other technicians within the department.

Work involves: 1) characterization of vaccine candidates for Cytauxzoon felis including determination of intron/exon structure, sequence conservation across geographic isolates, expression of candidates within different parasite life-stages using novel techniques such as RNAScope in situ hybridization, and microscopic laser capture of tissue life-stages to assess vaccine candidate expression using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), 2) optimization of PCR for antigen receptor rearrangement (PARR) from various tissue types as an aid in the diagnosis of lymphoma in cats and dogs, 3) design and optimization of experiments for analysis of potential mediators of progression of feline chronic kidney disease using qRT-PCR, 4) execution of canine clinical flow cytometry as an aid in the diagnosis of hematopoietic neoplasia, 5) optimization of feline clinical flow cytometry, 6) recombinant vaccine candidate production and purification for assessment in vitro using ELISPOT and Luminex assays, and 7) performance of flow cytometry for assessment of platelet function in dogs.

Performance differs from that of a technician in the planning and executing complex experiments, analyzing data, and applying theoretical concepts for the science.

Molecular biology techniques - PCR, RT-qPCR, nucleic acid extraction, electrophoresis, cloning, protein isolation, and electrophoresis, immunoblotting. Cell culture - isolation and maintenance of cells, media preparation, and cryopreservation.

Be able to sit or stand for extended periods of time

Planning and executing data analysis and summary of molecular biology: DNA/RNA extraction, cloning-homologous recombination/TA cloning, agarose gel and capillary gel electrophoresis, PCR design and execution (primer design, reaction optimization) including standard PCR, qRT-PCR and PCR for antigen receptor rearrangement (PARR), sequence analysis, recombinant protein expression, immunoblotting, in-situ hybridization including RNAScope, Protein isolation and electrophoresis, characterization of vaccine candidates for Cytauxzoon felis including determination of intron/exon structure and sequence conservation across geographic isolates, assessment of expression of candidates within different parasite life-stages using novel techniques such as RNAScope in situ hybridization, optimization of PCR for antigen receptor rearrangement (PARR). Training of students and other staff for many of these experiments is expected. Reproducibility of data and clear presentation of data will be a measure of success.

Planning and executing data analysis and summary of cell biology techniques: Execution and optimization of veterinary clinical flow cytometry - Canine and feline clinical flow cytometry including a 12 antibody panel- isolation and labeling of cells, acquisition of data using an LSRII cytometer, optimization of feline clinical flow cytometry panel, media/reagent preparation. Isolation and purification of peripheral blood mononuclear cells for ELISPOT and Luminex assays. Reproducibility of data and clear presentation of data will be a measure of success. Training of students in these techniques is expected.

Laboratory management: Establishing and editing SOPs, providing guidance for proper storage/submission of clinical flow cytometry samples to the members of the CVM/VMC and outside veterinarians, autoclaving, glass washing, stock ordering, and inventory organization, preparation of solutions, and equipment maintenance. Provides training to graduate students and technicians in these areas.