Lab Technician, Fins and Limbs Lab - Biology

The Fins and Limbs Lab at the University of Virginia is seeking a Laboratory Technician to support research on the functional morphology and comparative biomechanics of fish and salamanders under the supervision of Dr. Sandy Kawano. The candidate will contribute towards a collaborative research grant awarded by the Keck Foundation on "Integrating 3D technology, engineering, and biology to provide new insights into the evolutionary transition from water to land in vertebrates", with the goal of disentangling the roles of environment (aquatic, amphibious, terrestrial) and morphology (fin vs. limb) in governing the ability of bones to adapt to the physical demands of locomotion.

The position would involve laboratory support (e.g., inventory, standard operating procedures, maintaining data and metadata), overseeing the husbandry of an animal care facility for fishes and amphibians, and contributing towards research activities related to on-going work in the lab. Candidates who demonstrate significant progress on their research may have the option to lead and present the project at professional conferences, with funding provided to cover travel and registration expenses.

The candidate will gain or advance skills in 3D kinematics, 3D kinetics, electromyography, mechanical property testing, and micro-CT segmentation to help determine the mechanical requirements to walk on land. Micro-CT scanning and other portions of the research activities will be conducted at Mountain Lake Biological Station, one of UVA's field stations in Southwestern VA, particularly during the summer months. Funding is available to present at professional conferences.

The successful candidate will be expected to perform the following duties:

• Assist the supervisor in managing the animal care facility and associated research assistants.

• Maintain lab inventory, equipment, and other operations

• Process, segment, and analyze micro-CT scans.

• Assist with running laboratory experiments and analyses directly related to the position.

• Run computer code (e.g., R, LabVIEW, Python) as needed for research projects.

• Maintain accurate and detailed records of data and metadata.

• Train other lab members in the research techniques used in current lab projects.

• Assist the supervisor in preparing, editing, and executing standard operating procedures for common laboratory techniques.

• Assist the supervisor and other lab members with preparing research products (e.g., presentations at professional conferences, publications in peer-reviewed journals), as needed.

• Other related duties may also be assigned

Minimum Requirements:

• Education: Associate's degree required; may accept equivalent combination of experience, education, certification in lieu of degree.

• Experience: 2+ years of lab experience which may include student experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in biology, zoology, engineering, or related field

• Experience in writing and supervising protocols approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.

• Expertise in the care and use of fish and amphibians in research environments.

• Familiarity with writing basic scripts in computer programs (particularly R and/or LabVIEW).

• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

• Experience in other skills aligned with the research interests of the lab, such as DICECT, (micro-)CT segmentation software, muscle physiology, etc.

Anticipated Hiring Range: $20-$22/hour, commensurate with education and experience.

Physical Demands: This position requires spending time standing and sitting while conducting experiments or caring for animals, and fine motor control while working with sensitive electronics and conducting anatomical dissections of animal carcasses. The incumbent will work in dry and wet labs and will be required to follow regulations that are compliant with both work environments.

This is a full-time benefited position. For more information on the benefits at UVA, visit www.hr.virginia.edu/benefits.

This position is based in the Department of Biology at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA. Some work may require travel to Mountain Lake Biological Station where some research equipment is located.

This is a restricted position, which is dependent on funding and is contingent upon funding availability.

This position will not sponsor applicants who require Visa sponsorship now or in the future.

The University will perform background checks on all new hires prior to employment.

Application Timeline:

Review of applications will begin on June 1, 2026, and continue until the position has been filled. The official start date is tentatively August 1, 2026, but negotiable.

How to Apply:

Please apply online, and search for R0083515. Internal applicants may search and apply for jobs on the UVA Internal Careers website.Complete an application online with the following documents:

• Resume or Curriculum Vitae

• Cover Letter describing your relevant job qualifications, and how this position aligns with your short-term and/or long-term career goals

Upload all materials into the resume submission field, multiple documents can be submitted into this one field. Alternatively, merge all documents into one PDF for submission. Applications that do not contain all the required documents will not receive full consideration.This position is open until filled.

References will be completed via UVA's standardized process SkillSurvey. A total of five references will be requested via SkillSurvey during the final phase of the interview process.A minimum of three are required.

For information regarding the position or the application process, please contact Jessica Speth, Academic Recruiter, js9rk@virginia.edu.

Questions about the position may be directed to Dr. Sandy Kawano at sandyk@virginia.edu.

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA's commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.