Laboratory Research Technician III (OPTIn/MPS Group)

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.