St. John’s, established in 1870, has two New York City campuses; international locations in Rome, Italy; Limerick, Ireland; and Paris, France; and study abroad locations around the world. The Princeton Review and other top rankings consistently recognize the University’s outstanding academics, diverse student body, dynamic internship, and volunteer opportunities, focus on student life, and diverse study abroad offerings. St. John’s University offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs in its six colleges and schools, with a growing number of programs offered online. The University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and 12 other major academic and professional associations. 

A dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion is at the heart of our mission.  As a Catholic and Vincentian university, St. John’s is committed to institutionalizing practices of inclusive excellence to ensure that we welcome and celebrate the intrinsic worth of all members of our community.  We will become an even stronger university as we enhance equity at every level of our institution. Our graduates will excel in the competencies and values needed for leadership and service in a rapidly evolving world. 

Department: Pharmaceutical Sciences 

Specific Job Title: Part-Time Lab Technician (1 position is available) 

Reports to: Sei Higuchi, Ph.D. (higuchis@stjohns.edu) 

Campus: Queens 

Job Summary:  

Responsibilities are 1) assisting with experiments, 2) managing lab inventory, and 3) making experiment material. This lab technician position is expected to assist with experiments for Ph.D. Students, Undergraduate students, and PI. Applicants need basic knowledge of molecular biology, biochemistry, and pharmacology.  

Essential Functions: 

Major responsibilities:  

Assisting with experiments: Assisting with experimental procedures, including gel electrophoresis, quantitative PCR (qPCR), cell culture and mouse genotyping. 

Managing Inventory: Maintaining laboratory supplies, reagents, and equipment to ensure an efficient research environment. 

Making experiment material: Preparing culture media, Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), buffers for experiment (western blotting running buffer, western blotting transfer buffer, animal perfusion buffer), 0.9% NaCl saline, and sterile experiment materials (water for incubator, surgical materials for animals, 1.5 tubes for cell culture). Decontamination of research equipment. 

Reporting: The Lab technician needs to report the activity to the PI weekly. 

Competencies: 

Required skills: DNA extraction, agarose gel making, electrophoresis, DNA band imaging, PCR primer preparation, buffer (PBS, western blotting running buffer, and western blotting transfer buffer, etc) making, sterile procedures, cell culture media making, and lab material inventory check.  

Work Environment: 

The laboratory technician will work in room 61, St. Albert Hall, St. John’s University, Queens Campus. Dr. Sei Higuchi’s laboratory (approximately 840 square feet in size) is part of the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences of St. John’s University and is located on the main campus in Jamaica, NY. The laboratory is located on the B-level of St. Albert Hall (SAH.B61). The laboratory is equipped with a functional tissue culture hood for work with microorganisms and a 37-degree Celsius, CO2-regulated, tissue culture incubator. This lab space is equipped with a Class II biosafety cabinet. PI’s laboratory has six working benches, two benches for equipment, and a desk for five-six students and lab technician, along with a computer and a printer. It also is equipped with a Class II biosafety cabinet and a chemical fume hood ducted to the roof of St. Albert Hall. The laboratory has the following additional equipment; qPCR System QS3, Nanodrop one, thermal cycler (Thermo Fisher), plate reader SpectraMax M2, Centrifuge (Eppendorf 5424R, 5804R and VWR1814), four Voltex machines, auto cell counter Countess II FL (Life Technologies), -80 oC freezer (13 Cu), two -20 oC freezer x2 (4.3Cu), four fridges (4.3Cu), Milli-Q water purification system, water bath, two analytical balances, three inverted microscopes, pH meter, Seahorse Extracellular Flux Analyzer, tissue homogenizer (bead mill and generator probe homogenizer), power supplies and two sets of western blotting equipment (Invitrogen).  

Physical Demands: 

The lab technician needs to make a maximum of 1-5 L buffer and handle research equipment including PC. 

Environmental Conditions: 

The lab has some noise from the freezer and the timer for the experiment. Cell culture incubators contain 5% CO2. The lab has some biohazardous chemical compounds.  

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work: 

The lab technician will be expected to work 20 hours per week. Working days and times are flexible. 

Required Education and Experience:  

A bachelor’s degree is required. 

Preferred Education and Experience: 

Preferably a Pharm D or equivalent degree.  

In compliance with NYC’s Pay Transparency Act, the hourly salary range for this position is $22.00 - $25.00.  

*Important Note- St. John’s is NOT an E-Verify Employer  

St. John’s offers a competitive compensation program which is commensurate with your qualifications, experience, and contingent upon the departmental budget. We also offer an extremely comprehensive benefits program to meet the diverse needs of our workforce. Along with exceptional benefits such as medical, dental, life insurance, long term disability insurance, tuition remission, generous 403(b) employer contribution, employee assistance program, and liberal paid time off policies, faculty and staff can also enjoy St. John’s performing arts, libraries, bookstores, dining facilities, campus recreation and sporting events 

Any offer of employment is subject to receipt by St. John’s University of satisfactory references, verification of employment and education. 

St. John’s University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.