Staff Associate II

The Columbia Stem Cell Initiative (CSCI) Flow Cytometry core facility is a busy shared resource facility that provides Columbia University laboratories access to high-end, state-of-the-art flow cytometry instrumentation and services. CSCI Flow Cytometry currently maintains four cell sorters, four cell analyzers, including a spectral flow cytometer, and an imaging cytometer. In addition, the core maintains complementary instrumentation, including qPCR, cell counting and basic imaging. The core facility also offers access to 10x Genomics single-cell RNA sequencing technology. Our services are utilized by nearly 500 researchers from nearly 200 individual labs across the Columbia University campuses that represent a diverse array of research areas, including stem cell biology, immunology, cancer biology, biomedical engineering, and neuroscience.

We are currently seeking a motivated candidate to join the CSCI's growing team as a Flow Cytometry Specialist (Staff Associate II). This is an exciting opportunity for a candidate eager to advance their career in flow cytometry field by developing expertise in a diverse set of complex instrumentation and contributing to many areas of cutting-edge biomedical science at the top-tier Columbia University Medical Center.

Primary Responsibilities

• Contribute to research by assisting members of Columbia University labs to utilize the complex instrumentation in the core facility for a wide range of experiments.
• Assist researchers with experimental design, data analysis and troubleshooting of work performed in the core facility.
• Train users to independently operate cell sorters, cell analyzers and other equipment.
• Assist with the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and training materials.
• Participate in research and development projects focused on flow cytometry and cell sorting techniques.
• Perform routine instrument troubleshooting, intervention, and reporting. Perform routine laboratory maintenance.

Please note that this position may require some flexibility of working hours depending on experimental need.

CSCI Flow Cytometry is an extremely busy laboratory serving the needs of many researchers in a single day. Success in this position requires independent learning, an aptitude for troubleshooting, the ability to multitask, and excellent interpersonal skills.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 4 years of professional work experience recommended.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in cell biology, molecular biology, or biochemistry OR Bachelor's degree in another scientific field with relevant coursework, laboratory experience, and a demonstrated understanding of the fundamental concepts of biological sciences.
• At least 1 year of experience working with flow cytometric technologies. This experience may be through performing flow cytometry experiments in a research lab or through work in a core facility.
• A demonstrated understanding of the basic concepts of flow cytomtery.
• Independent and critical thinking skills. Successful instrument troubleshooting, which is a major component of this position, requires implementing a logical workflow, based on knowledge of flow cytometry principles and instrument components, to discover root causes and resolve issues.
• Aptitude for constant learning and development, especially in the context of complex instrumentation and technology.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to adapt. This position requires extensive interaction with a large user base of varying levels of experience, so patience, willingness to teach, and ability to resolve conflicts in a professional, and effective manner is critical for success.
• Facility with computers and the ability to adopt new software platforms.