The Kaplan Lab focuses on biomaterials derived from biopolymer engineering and on tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and cellular agriculture. The lab utilizes fibrous proteins from nature (e.g., elastins, silks, collagens, resilins) and bioengineered variants to study structure-function from both fundamental and applied views. The lab has pioneered the study of silk protein-based biomaterials with the emergence of silk as a new option in the degradable polymer field with excellent biocompatibility, new fundamental understanding of control of water to regulate structure and properties, and new tissue-specific outcomes with silk as scaffolding in gel, fiber, film, sponge, and dense medical device formats. Recent efforts focus on dynamic protein-based biomaterials utilizing silk-elastin copolymers and on modulating crystallization related to sustained drug delivery.

This is a grant funded position and is not eligible for severance pay.

The Kaplan Lab Research Tech will assist in the design, construction, and daily/weekly lab maintenance tasks in running small devices and bioreactors systems, assist in the cultivation, maintenance, and expansion of mammalian cells and organoids in support of a range of tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and cellular agriculture studies, as well as standardized assays in support of these systems that are widely used in the lab.
Responsibilities include:
• Perform troubleshooting of instruments, taking and recording corrective actions, maintenance of equipment in working order.
• Assist in the setup of new procedures, modification of existing procedures, update of procedure manuals
• Participate in lab duties maintaining shared lab space
• Cell culture - standard cell culture techniques, media, cell expansion, cell storage
• Molecular biotechnology - standard assays (qPCR), CRISPR genome engineering, cell engineering, creating new iPSC derived cell types and stable reporter lines, protein and immunohistochemistry characterization of cells and tissue samples
• Attends mandatory annual training sessions in fire safety, chemical hygiene, and laboratory safety, HIPAA compliance
• Performs other similar and related duties as required or directed i.e., assisting in order and stock levels, making lab stock solutions for assays and culture medium, autoclave trash, waste pick-up coordinator, protocol write-ups and updates of general lab activities
• Specific experimental assistance as needed

Basic Requirements:

• Knowledge and skills typically acquired by a BS degree in biomedical engineering, bioengineering or related field
• Wet lab, biological laboratory experience
• Ability to work accurately, effectively, within a team and independently under pressure and to meet deadlines
• Ability to manage work with minimal supervision.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; highly self-motivated
• Ability to multi-task and work on multiple projects simultaneously
• Demonstrated organizational skills and ability to pay close attention to detail
• Motivation to learn and grow in scientific expertise
• Ability to trouble-shoot technical issues
• Ability to plan and prioritize work while responding flexibly to rapidly changing priorities

Preferred Qualifications:

• BS degree in biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, materials engineering or related field
• Research experience in an academic lab
• Ability to read scientific literature and adapt/design new protocols
• Accurate, detailed data and record keeping
Special Work Schedule Requirements:
• Some night and weekend commitments, including participation in the administrator-on-call rotation is required

About Tufts University

This is Tufts. Tufts is a student-centered research university with a constellation of world-class schools encompassing undergraduate, graduate, professional, and lifelong learning programs. Across the university, students satisfy their intellectual curiosity, jump-start rewarding careers, and unlock bright, promising futures. Through rigorous academics, groundbreaking research, and a commitment to civic engagement and leadership, our community of students, faculty, and staff collaborate across four Massachusetts campuses to build a brighter world (Medford/Somerville, Grafton, Boston-Chinatown, and Boston-Fenway). Our employees light the way. Tufts develops innovative solutions for the most complex global challenges of our time through teaching, research, and an unparalleled investment in civic engagement. In administration and operations, in dining centers and in labs, every employee plays a role in our mission for a better, brighter world. At Tufts, the work you do matters. So do you. Enjoy flexible and remote opportunities, innovative benefits, and an inclusive, welcoming, collaborative culture that supports you. Develop your skills. Take classes. Advance your career. ...Do work that makes you proud in a community you love. All while taking great care of yourself and the people who matter most. We’re all in on creating an anti-racist culture of belonging. Across Tufts, we’ve deepened our commitment to making the university a truly inclusive place. Where every member of our community contributes and feels like they belong. Where diverse perspectives are seen as our strength, and great ideas are always heard. In offices, labs, classrooms, and beyond, we’re doing this work together, knowing it is the foundation of our mission to create a brighter world. An innovative university needs resourceful people who make things happen. Here, collaboration isn’t just a buzzword, colleagues actually care, and community means everything. Sound appealing? Come join us. Choose a campus and find the role that fits you. Tufts University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We are committed to increasing the diversity of our faculty and staff and fostering their success when hired. Members of underrepresented groups are welcome and strongly encouraged to apply. See the University’s Non-Discrimination statement and policy here https://oeo.tufts.edu/policies-procedures/non-discrimination/. If you are an applicant with a disability who is unable to use our online tools to search and apply for jobs, please contact us by calling the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) at 617-627-3298 or at oeo@tufts.edu. Applicants can learn more about requesting reasonable accommodations at https://oeo.tufts.edu/

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