RESEARCH TECHNICIAN

Company information

Company

HST Careers

Division

FRESH

Females Rising through Education, Support and Health

Province

KwaZulu-Natal

District

eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality

Location

Umlazi

Job Specification Information

Title

RESEARCH TECHNICIAN

Description

The Health Systems Trust (HST) wishes to appoint a highly motivated Research Technician to support the laboratory needs of clinical and translational research projects conducted at Health System Trust’s FRESH clinical research site (CRS), located at Megacity in Umlazi, KZN. Research projects will focus on the role of the female genital tract microbiome in health outcomes such as HIV acquisition and preterm birth. The Site: FRESH is a groundbreaking initiative that integrates scientific research with community empowerment. The research technician will work closely with FRESH staff and with research technicians from the HIV Pathogenesis Programme (HPP) based at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Nelson Mandela School of Medicine in Durban. Research Focus: Research will focus on the female genital tract microbiome and its impact on health outcomes such as HIV acquisition and preterm birth. Additionally, investigations will assess how bacterial interactions shape the composition of the vaginal microbiome, which is known to impact female sexual and reproductive health. Reporting: The research technician will be co-supervised by FRESH Principal Investigator, Dr Rosie Mngqbisa, and Dr Meilin Zhu who is the Director of Translational Research from the US-based Kwon Lab at the Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT and Harvard. At FRESH, Drs Mngqbisa and Zhu lead innovative interventional clinical trials. Techniques and Assays: This laboratory technician will be handling and processing tissue and blood samples, and performing immunologic assays, nucleic acid extractions, PCR, sequencing, preparation of interventional products, and novel assays to study mucosal immune responses to mucosal bacteria. Contract Type: This is a fixed-term contract position, renewable based on performance and availability of funds.

Key Responsibilities

Laboratory Research and Experimental Work • Perform experiments analysing microbial and tissue samples from human subjects in tissue culture hoods, assessing the impact of the microbiome and HIV infection on cervicovaginal mucosal health. • Perform and assist with experiments involving bacteriology, immunologic assays, microscopy, and molecular biology. • Read and interpret current literature to aid in experimental design. Laboratory Operations and Quality Assurance • Store biological samples and products properly and maintain sample-tracking databases. • Maintain lab equipment, including calibrating, cleaning and troubleshooting instruments, and monitoring temperature logs for freezers and fridges. • Ensure quality control of equipment, reagents, and cellular components. • Ensure compliance with safety and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) procedures. Data Analysis, Documentation and Reporting • Analyse data and present findings to others. • Maintain detailed documentation of experimental work. Collaboration and Communication • Work closely within the group and with outside collaborators. • Maintain close communication with supervisors regarding progress.

Key Attributes

• Hands-on experience in general cellular biology techniques • Familiarity with biomedical research laboratory procedures and safety requirements • Good computer literacy (Microsoft Office)

Education Required

Matric

Qualification Required

• BSc (Honours) degree in biology, microbiology, computational biology, biological engineering, ecology, or similar required

Experience Required

• Minimum one-year experience working in a biomedical research laboratory (time spent in a lab towards completion of an Honours degree is considered)

Remuneration

Market-related, subject to the approved project budget and applicable funding conditions.

Other Job Details

• Interested applicants must complete their application online at: https://careers.hst.org.za/ • Applicants must ensure that their online applications are completed in full and that comprehensive CVs are uploaded with the online application to be considered. • Applicants’ CVs must be saved with filenames reflecting their names and surnames. • No applications sent via email will be considered, as all applicants must submit their applications online using the provided link. • Enquiries regarding this post and requests for the job profile may be directed to Mrs. Tarryn Tomlinson (Grants & Administration Manager), leslie@ukzn.ac.za and Dr Meilin Zhu (Director of Translational Research), mzhu0@mgh.harvard.edu. *ABOUT THE EMPLOYER The successful candidate will be employed by Health Systems Trust (HST), with employment transitioning to the Ragon Institute–South Africa Alliance (RISAA), NPC once it is registered through the South African Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC). PLEASE NOTE: • All personal information collected is processed lawfully in terms of the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). • Shortlisted candidates will be requested to submit certified copies of all qualifications and identity documents. • Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. • Correspondence will be limited to shortlisted candidates. • All shortlisted candidates will be subjected to reference and credential checks. • If you have not been contacted within 30 days of the closing date of this advertisement, please accept that your application has been unsuccessful. • HST reserves the right not to fill this position.