Research Technician II - 170859
Position Overview
The Duke Human Vaccine Institute (DHVI) continues to lead cutting edge vaccine research against infectious diseases that impact global health. Basic science discoveries made using a variety of human and pathogen-derived proteins, designed, expressed and purified by a collaborative DHVI team have contributed to the identification of vaccine and therapeutic candidates currently being produced in Good Manufacturing Practice facilities for early phase clinical trials.
The proteins derived from HIV envelope will be designed and expressed as candidate vaccine immunogens that will also be used to probe B cells in humans and rhesus macaques in an effort to characterize B cells that can be stimulated by these immunogens. These proteins will also be used to functionally characterize B cell derived antibodies. Thus, our efforts are aimed at identifying and characterizing candidate immunogens and the target B cells to be harnessed by an effective HIV vaccine.
Responsibilities
- Perform vaccine research focusing on production of recombinant antibodies and HIV envelopes
- Master cell culture techniques to express protein in eukaryotic cells through transient transfection
- Perform the following experimental activities:
- Molecular biology assays such as PCR, site-directed mutagenesis, DNA preparation
- Sanger sequencing of plasmid DNA
- Large scale antibody, HIV-1 envelope, and host protein production and purification
- Analysis of recombinant antibodies and HIV-1 envelopes using biochemical and immunological techniques, such as FPLC, SDS-PAGE, Western blots, ELISA, and biolayer interferometry
- HIV-1 envelope and antibody sequence analysis
- Biotinylation and fluorescent labeling of recombinant proteins
- Flow cytometry analysis of fluorescent proteins
- Understand and comply with all safety standards and procedures to ensure a safe working environment for all laboratory staff
- Design, execute, analyze, and archive experiments in a manner that is scientifically justifiable, reliable and understandable to others
- Help manage protein inventories
- Keep lab equipment, chemicals reagents, and supplies in excellent order
- Perform routine lab maintenance, cleaning, organizing, and restocking supplies
- Track work and compliantly order materials and reagents associated with numerous projects under multiple grants
- Learn new techniques from colleagues, develop new techniques for the lab, and teach them to others
- Review primary data with your supervisor
- Collaborate with other staff and perform other duties as requested by the Principal Investigator or senior lab staff
- Closely follow all standard operating procedures
Required Qualifications at this Level
- Education/Training: Work generally requires a bachelor's degree in biology or other directly related scientific field.
- Experience: None required beyond above education/training requirement.