Laboratory Research Technician III (OPTIn/MPS Group)University of Pittsburgh

Laboratory Research Technician III

Liver Microphysiological Systems (MPS) Team – Organ Pathobiology and Therapeutics Institute (OPTIn), Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology

Performs a variety of independent laboratory work and experiments in support of the Liver MPS Team, which combines biomimetic liver microphysiological systems with multi-omics analysis and quantitative systems pharmacology to study liver and metabolic disease and advance precision medicine. Builds, maintains, and assays 3D multicellular liver MPS models using patient-derived primary cells and iPSC-derived hepatic cells; prepares samples and datasets for imaging, biochemical, and omics analysis; oversees specimen and laboratory inventory; and prepares reports, figures, and written documentation for publications and grant proposals.

• Performs independent laboratory work in support of liver microphysiological systems (MPS) research, including assembling, seeding, maintaining, and monitoring 3D biomimetic liver MPS platforms according to established protocols.

• Establishes and maintains cell cultures for MPS experiments, including primary human hepatocytes, non-parenchymal liver cells (e.g., LSECs, hepatic stellate cells, Kupffer cells, cholangiocytes), and patient-derived iPSC-derived hepatic cells, using aseptic technique.

Performs MPS assays and readouts, including fluorescence and high-content imaging, biochemical assays of secreted biomarkers and cellular function, and collection and processing of samples for omics analysis (e.g., transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics).

Prepares, handles, and tracks patient-derived cells, specimens, and MPS effluents and lysates, maintaining sample labeling, storage, and chain-of-custody records in compliance with institutional biosafety and human-subject's requirements.

• Analyzes experimental data and interprets results; compiles, organizes, and quality-checks imaging, biochemical, and omics-associated datasets for use by team members and computational modelers; writes reports and summaries of findings.

• Prepares data, graphs, tables, and figures to document experimental results for presentations, manuscripts, and grant progress reports.

• Keeps detailed, accurate, and timely electronic or paper laboratory notebooks, protocols, and data logs.

• Maintains and oversees specimen, reagent, consumable, and chemical inventory and ordering, including cell culture media, MPS devices, antibodies, and assay kits; maintains and troubleshoots shared laboratory equipment such as incubators, microscopes, and plate readers.

• Performs literature searches and summarizes findings to support protocol development, manuscripts, and grant proposals; contributes to the writing of methods sections and other manuscript and grant content.

• Consults with cell biologists, MPS engineers, computational modelers, clinician-scientists, and other team members regarding laboratory procedures and experiments.

• Develops recommendations and resolves technical problems to improve the reproducibility, efficiency, and quality of MPS experiments and workflows.

The job duties outlined in this job description include common job responsibilities for this title and level of jobs and are not intended to cover every duty. The University reserves the right to assign other duties to employees that are not listed in this job description.

Performs a variety of independent laboratory work and experiments such as determining experimental protocols and preparation of specimens and cultures. Prepares reports of findings subsequent to compilation and analyzation. Oversees specimen inventory. Develops documentation for publication; crafts manuscripts and grant proposals.

Computer work: walking from place to place; standing and sitting to perform essential tasks. Good manual dexterity.

Lifting and stacking of boxes of supplies, standing for extended periods required to fulfill workload. Light - Maximum lifting of up to 20 lbs. With frequent lifting/carrying of up to 10 lbs. or a negligible amount; significant walking or standing may be required or may involve sitting with a degree of pushing and pulling.