JOB DESCRIPTION
Lab Technician/ Research Associate, (Two Vacancies)
FIND India, Mumbai and Ahmedabad

1. POSITION(S) VACANT: Lab Technician/ Research Associate, FIND India, Two Vacancies

2. Number of Vacancies: 2

3. ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND:

FIND India is a subsidiary of FIND, an international non-profit organization based in Geneva, Switzerland. The organization is dedicated to activities that result in: 1) new diagnostic tools; 2) expanded access to these tools; and 3) strengthened diagnostic testing capacity for poverty-related diseases in low-and middle-income countries.

For more information about the organization, please visit http://www.finddx.org/
 

3. JOB DESCRIPTION / RESPONSIBILITIES:

OVERALL OBJECTIVE:

Under National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) of India, there are 74 NTEP certified TB C&DST labs (across public, NGO and private sector) and the network is expected to expand further. Staff at these TB C&DST laboratories are trained at national level at National Reference Laboratories (at least one master trainer from each lab). These master trainers in turn conduct state/ on-site training. On-site training are resource intensive and require substantial planning and cost. In the NTEP, on an average, there is 20% attrition of staff across the country annually and hence the need for regular training for new recruits. Mechanisms for training need assessment, and reorientation of existing staff are being improved. Further, with the expansion of programme, NTEP’s training needs are continuously increasing which underlines the need for developing and implementing innovative and cost-effective approaches to training. Under Global Fund Project, FIND will be strengthening capacity building of five Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) labs to make them centres of excellence, to gather and analyse sequencing data for drug resistant TB surveillance in India.

3. JOB DESCRIPTION/ RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Lab Technician/ Research Associate shall be responsible for the following:

Key Roles and Responsibilities:
(1) Work under direct supervision of lab supervisors to operate Miseq Illumina sequencer and/or other sequencing platforms and carry out all laboratory activities related to sequencing to generate TB surveillance data. (Training shall be provided);
(2) Perform TB genome sequencing work that include TB culture and DST, nucleic acid extraction, DNA/RNA purification and quantitation, primers and probe designing, RT-PCR, Library preparation, sequencing, preparation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) & Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), etc;
(3) Provide support in routine WGS lab process, equipment maintenance including temperature monitoring, reagent preparation, washing/cleaning of equipment, equipment calibration, etc.;
(4) Identify problems that may adversely affect test performance, take authorized corrective action, and notify it to key individuals;
(5) Follow good lab practices, lab biosafety and regulatory policies, including handling hazardous materials and wearing of PPE that are relative to assigned work;
(6) Maintain all the paperwork, record/ logbooks & documentation part, preparation of SOPs etc. as per lab protocols;
(7) Maintain stock inventory, WGS equipment inventory, equipment AMC schedule etc;
(8) Data collection from various WGS experiments performed in the lab, compilation of all the data, data entry, data cleaning, regular data backup etc.;
(9) Contribute to bioinformatic analysis;
(10) Review project progress and provide technical support in line with various pre-identified targets. Support supervisors, microbiologists and Lab staff for all laboratory operations as per need, preparing periodic surveillance data reports, presentations and publications in the prescribed formats; etc;
(11) Collaborate effectively with project team, participate in training, meetings, online discussions etc.;
(12) Undertake any other job assigned by site in charge/ microbiologists and the FIND technical team, as per project needs.

4. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES:

(1) Masters’ Degree in Science with a specialization in Microbiology/ molecular biology/ genetics/ biotechnology with or without Medical Lab Technology, or higher qualification;
(2) Minimum two years of experience of working in sequencing labs;
(3) Advanced training in genomics will be preferred;
(4) Experience of using wet lab molecular biology techniques and basic lab equipment;
(5) Experience of molecular biology, microbiology, infectious diseases including TB.

Skills and Competencies
(1) Ability to work independently and as a part of a team, with minimum handholding and supervision;
(2) Good oral and written communication skills; Experience of data entry, data management and working with excel genomics is strongly desired;
(3) Ability to learn new technologies, perform multiple tasks simultaneously, and keep accurate records, is plus;
(4) Professional, passionate, energetic and confident.

5. COMPENSATION OFFERED:

The gross compensation budgeted for the position is attractive. Please note that the offer made to the selected candidate shall be commensurate with qualifications, experience, and salary history.

6. LOCATION and NUMBER OF VACANCIES: Two; (JJH Mumbai- 1; IRL Ahmedabad- 1)

7. REFERENCE: LT-FIND

8. CONTACT INFORMATION:
 

Team SAMS
Strategic Alliance Management Services P Ltd.
1/1B, Choudhary Hetram House, Bharat Nagar
New Friends Colony, New Delhi 110 025
Phone Nos.: 011- 4081 9900; 4165 3612
 

9. APPLICATION PROCESS:

Eligible candidates interested in this position are requested to apply online to https://recruitment.samshrm.com/JOBS/FIND by or before July 5, 2022.