Research Technician - College of Engineering - Department of Mechanical Engineering — Pittsburgh, PA

Innovation. Interdisciplinary collaboration. Complex problem solving. In Carnegie Mellon University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, faculty members, researchers, and students are revolutionizing focus areas in advanced manufacturing, bioengineering, computational engineering, energy and the environment, product design, and robotics. In addition, they are using their expertise in interdisciplinary research centers across the university.

Carnegie Mellon University’s department of Mechanical Engineering is searching for a Research Technician to join their team. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who thrives in an interesting and challenging work environment. You will support the department by working at the interface of engineered-cell culture, optical biosensing, and device-oriented in vitro testing.

This position will focus primarily on developing, executing, and documenting calibration workflows for cells designed to measure clinically relevant biomarkers. The role will involve maintaining and testing engineered cell lines, establishing in vitro calibration protocols, building and operating benchtop test setups, collecting fluorescence-based measurements, analyzing quantitative readouts, and preparing rigorous experimental documentation.

The candidate will work closely with faculty, postdoctoral researchers, students, engineers, and external collaborators. The role is well suited for a technically strong researcher with hands-on experience in mammalian cell culture, fluorescence-based assays, quantitative experimental workflows, and careful protocol development.

Core Responsibilities:

• Address assigned project milestones in a timely and well-documented manner.
• Maintain mammalian cell cultures and prepare cells for calibration, viability, and functional testing.
• Develop, execute, and refine standard operating procedures for engineered-cell handling and in vitro testing
• Operate fluorescence measurement systems, plate readers, microscopes, incubators, sterile hoods, and related benchtop equipment.
• Record, organize, analyze, and archive experimental data in a traceable and reproducible manner.
• Prepare technical summaries, figures, protocols, presentations, and reports for internal project meetings.
• Coordinate with postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, faculty, and external collaborators.
• Maintain laboratory supplies, cell stocks, reagent inventories, and equipment logs.
• Follow all applicable biosafety, chemical safety, and institutional compliance procedures.
• Establish and maintain in vitro test setups for calibration of engineered cells.
• Culture, expand, bank, and prepare engineered cell lines.
• Perform fluorescence-based calibration experiments using engineered cells that include biomarker-responsive signals and constitutive calibration signals.
• Generate dose-response, dynamic-range, sensitivity, stability, and repeatability datasets under defined in vitro conditions.
• Support evaluation of cell behavior under device-relevant culture conditions, including longer-duration studies when needed.
• Work with engineers to ensure cell-testing protocols are compatible with optical hardware, device materials, cell compartments, and implant-relevant testing configurations.
• Assist in identifying sources of signal drift, variability, cell loss, contamination, or measurement artifacts.
• Prepare protocols suitable for transfer, replication, and milestone reporting.
• Support additional cell- and engineering-related work across the projects in the Ozdoganlar laboratory.
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• M.S. degree in Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Bioengineering, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, or a closely related field.
• 2 years of relevant laboratory experience beyond the degree
• Experience with thesis-based cell culture, assay development, fluorescence imaging, or bioengineering
• Experience with several of the following: Mammalian cell culture, sterile technique, passaging, cryopreservation, cell viability assays, fluorescence microscopy or plate- reader assays, quantitative assay calibration, protocol development, data organization, and basic statistical analysis.
• Experience with engineered cells, biosensors, microphysiological systems, implantable- device testing, or co-culture/hydrogel environments is desirable but not required.
• Preferred training: BSL-2 training, biosafety training, chemical hygiene training, animal- care training if future duties require it, or equivalent institutional laboratory certifications.
• A combination of education and relevant experience from which comparable knowledge is demonstrated may be considered.

Requirements

• Successful background check

Location

Pittsburgh, PAJob Function

ResearchersPosition Type

Full timePay Basis

SalaryMore Information:

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