Massachusetts General Hospital
Research Technician
Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, us, 02298
Position Purpose:
The MGH Brain Trauma lab uses swine models to understand the development of the immature brain, the pathophysiology of TBI, and post-traumatic sequelae such as post-traumatic epilepsy and hydrocephalus, and to test therapies. Our laboratory applies computational methods including machine learning to investigate the impact of seizures and abnormal brain activity on outcomes in pigs with cortical impact. Our goal is to understand pathological correlates of epilepsy and traumatic brain injury. Analysis of datasets (including video-EEG telemetry, intracellular chloride, among others) is central to these efforts.
Specific efforts focus on utilizing and/or developing methods for automatically classifying the semiology of pigs in video monitoring as they undergo the development of epilepsy and understanding the relationships between any abnormal behaviors and time after injury or the change in seizure frequency. Efforts will particularly focus on using machine learning approaches including training artificial neural networks via open-source libraries such as Keras and Tensorflow and using open-source software such as DeepLabCut, SimBA, ffmpeg, etc. Signal processing, statistics, algorithms, etc. to analyze or process large datasets of video frames may also be employed.
This position will have both direct, hands-on clinical work with swine and also machine learning.
The Research Technician is supervised by the Research Technologist, Dr. Nelson Marquez and the PI, Dr. Beth Costine-Bartell, and works alongside the other research technicians to perform both direct work in swine, work on a machine learning pipeline for behavioral analysis, and will analyze EEG. They will also interact with the labs of Kevin Staley, Kyle Lillis, Brandon Westover, and Syd Cash.
Key Accountabilities:
Research/Experiments
• Orders reagents
• Performs post-surgical care
• May assist with surgery and anesthesia
• Collects blood with awake or anesthetized animals. Process blood per protocols.
• Identifies, troubleshoots and corrects or recommends solutions to problems associated with experimental methods, procedures and techniques, or equipment and facilities.
• Ensures adherence to laboratory safety requirements including general and chemical/hazardous waste safety disposal methods.
• Is encouraged to contribute independently to the scientific content of the experiments, and to author and present original and team-related work.
• Creates and submits IACUC amendments.
Data Collection
• Collects data, enters data into databases, animal surgery records, the animals medical record, and data storage devices. Converts paper documents to electronic records.
• Keeps a detailed laboratory book and electronic notebook recording lab and animal work on a daily basis that is easy for others to read, understand, and repeat the procedures described.
• Uses Unix Shell (e.g. bash, zsh, or etc.), Python, DeepLabCut, SimBA, etc. in a pipeline to classify semiology in videos.
• Performs basic analyses or interpretation of EEGs.
• Screen videos for convulsive seizures.
EDUCATION:
Bachelor's degree required.
EXPERIENCE:
New graduates with some lab experience (via course work, internships, etc.) or those without any prior research experience will be considered for the Research Technician I position outlined above. Those with a minimum of 1 year of directly related work experience will be considered for a Research Technician II position.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY
(if applicable):
A Research Technician II may serve as a team leader to lab assistants and Research Technician I's.
Massachusetts General Hospital is an Affirmative Action Employer. By embracing diverse skills, perspectives and ideas, we choose to lead. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. #J-18808-Ljbffr
The MGH Brain Trauma lab uses swine models to understand the development of the immature brain, the pathophysiology of TBI, and post-traumatic sequelae such as post-traumatic epilepsy and hydrocephalus, and to test therapies. Our laboratory applies computational methods including machine learning to investigate the impact of seizures and abnormal brain activity on outcomes in pigs with cortical impact. Our goal is to understand pathological correlates of epilepsy and traumatic brain injury. Analysis of datasets (including video-EEG telemetry, intracellular chloride, among others) is central to these efforts.
Specific efforts focus on utilizing and/or developing methods for automatically classifying the semiology of pigs in video monitoring as they undergo the development of epilepsy and understanding the relationships between any abnormal behaviors and time after injury or the change in seizure frequency. Efforts will particularly focus on using machine learning approaches including training artificial neural networks via open-source libraries such as Keras and Tensorflow and using open-source software such as DeepLabCut, SimBA, ffmpeg, etc. Signal processing, statistics, algorithms, etc. to analyze or process large datasets of video frames may also be employed.
This position will have both direct, hands-on clinical work with swine and also machine learning.
The Research Technician is supervised by the Research Technologist, Dr. Nelson Marquez and the PI, Dr. Beth Costine-Bartell, and works alongside the other research technicians to perform both direct work in swine, work on a machine learning pipeline for behavioral analysis, and will analyze EEG. They will also interact with the labs of Kevin Staley, Kyle Lillis, Brandon Westover, and Syd Cash.
Key Accountabilities:
Research/Experiments
• Orders reagents
• Performs post-surgical care
• May assist with surgery and anesthesia
• Collects blood with awake or anesthetized animals. Process blood per protocols.
• Identifies, troubleshoots and corrects or recommends solutions to problems associated with experimental methods, procedures and techniques, or equipment and facilities.
• Ensures adherence to laboratory safety requirements including general and chemical/hazardous waste safety disposal methods.
• Is encouraged to contribute independently to the scientific content of the experiments, and to author and present original and team-related work.
• Creates and submits IACUC amendments.
Data Collection
• Collects data, enters data into databases, animal surgery records, the animals medical record, and data storage devices. Converts paper documents to electronic records.
• Keeps a detailed laboratory book and electronic notebook recording lab and animal work on a daily basis that is easy for others to read, understand, and repeat the procedures described.
• Uses Unix Shell (e.g. bash, zsh, or etc.), Python, DeepLabCut, SimBA, etc. in a pipeline to classify semiology in videos.
• Performs basic analyses or interpretation of EEGs.
• Screen videos for convulsive seizures.
EDUCATION:
Bachelor's degree required.
EXPERIENCE:
New graduates with some lab experience (via course work, internships, etc.) or those without any prior research experience will be considered for the Research Technician I position outlined above. Those with a minimum of 1 year of directly related work experience will be considered for a Research Technician II position.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY
(if applicable):
A Research Technician II may serve as a team leader to lab assistants and Research Technician I's.
Massachusetts General Hospital is an Affirmative Action Employer. By embracing diverse skills, perspectives and ideas, we choose to lead. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. #J-18808-Ljbffr