Gaskill Lab

Gaskill Lab Research Technician / Lab Manager

The Gaskill lab explores the immunomodulatory effects of addictive drugs, neuropsychiatric therapeutics and neurotransmitters, particularly dopamine, in neurological and inflammatory disease. These studies focus on macrophages, a major driver of systemic and tissue inflammation and a principal target for HIV in many organ systems. We mainly use primary human macrophages from blood and tissues as well as iPSC-derived macrophages and microglia. The majority of our experiments use high-content imaging to perform unbiased, high-throughput analysis of large, heterogenous cell populations and molecular targets in response to many distinct stimuli. 

This position involves both administrative and scientific responsibilities. Administratively, this be responsible for ordering and shipping supplies, reagents and samples, maintaining lab inventory and refilling reagents stocks, writing and updating standard operating procedures, managing lab instruments and carrying out additional logistical and maintenance tasks as needed to keep lab operations running smoothly.

Scientifically, the individual hired for this position will be heavily involved in the isolation, culture and differentiation of myeloid cells from human blood, other organ systems (liver, lung) and from inducible pluripotent stem cells. This individual will also be responsible for characterizing the cells obtained from each isolation using standard molecular biology techniques such as qPCR, Western blotting and flow cytometry. This individual will also be actively assisting Dr. Gaskill with specific projects involving HIV infection, high content imaging and analysis, qPCR and Western blotting, and will also help assist other lab members with their specific projects as time permits.

A successful candidate will join the Gaskill lab in the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology at Drexel University College of Medicine as a senior research technician or lab manager. The ideal candidate will have 3+ years of research experience, be proactive, able to work well with groups, highly organized and willing to learn. This individual must be comfortable being trained  to work with HIV in BSL-2+ settings. Individual should be experienced with academic software such as Microsoft Office (Word / Excel / Powerpoint), Lab Archives, Airtable, Biorender, Prism, Adobe Illustrator, and similar programs as well as with cell culture and standard molecular biology techniques (Western blotting, qPCR). 

Responsibilities

• Monitor and maintain inventories of laboratory reagents, supplies and samples

• Order new reagents, supplies, and equipment as necessary

• Maintaining lab space in a clean, working state 

• Work directly with Dr. Gaskill setting up and executing specific experiments

• Prepare reagents and stocks

• Regular isolation and culture macrophages from human blood and tissue samples

• Differentiation and culture of iPSC-derived myeloid cells 

• Generate biosafety protocols, SOPs, records of maintenance and other records according to university guidelines

• Perform cell and molecular assays to assist other lab members with their projects as time permits

• Routine equipment monitoring and cleaning