Biology Technician

About this role

The Opportunity:

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. What we are looking for

•  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 normal/optimal specimen structure and quality – to assess acceptability of specimen as you work – normally partially acquired in college laboratory and lecture courses in biology, partially acquired on the job as a laboratory technician (however, not ALL lab techs are trained in this), may be acquired teaching biology. • 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. • Ability to follow multi-step procedures accurately – to be able to produce slides – education in these procedures is particularly helpful, partially experience in and out of laboratory.  We use many different procedures; most of them involving more than 20 separate steps where a mistake at any one of them can ruin the product. • 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.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this position. Avantor is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

Why Avantor? Dare to go further in your career. Join our global team of 14,000+ associates whose passion for discovery and determination to overcome challenges relentlessly advances life-changing science.   The work we do changes people's lives for the better. It brings new patient treatments and therapies to market, giving a cancer survivor the chance to walk his daughter down the aisle. It enables medical devices that help a little boy hear his mom's voice for the first time. Outcomes such as these create unlimited opportunities for you to contribute your talents, learn new skills and grow your career at Avantor.   We are committed to helping you on this journey through our diverse, equitable and inclusive culture which includes learning experiences to support your career growth and success. At Avantor, dare to go further and see how the impact of your contributions set science in motion

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