Career Center

JOB SUMMARY

To assist with the development of the Electron Microscopy unit in order to support the Pathology in patient care in deriving a more precise differential diagnosis of tissues submitted for their evaluation.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Administrative duties:

• Maintain and complete records for patient care services and research projects.
• Organize and prioritize all work performed in the electron microscopy laboratory.
• Submit billing information regarding patient charges and research charges.
• Cost analysis on EM services.
• Consult with requesting pathologist regarding the requirements on each case or project personally or by telephone.
• Prepare purchase orders to keep adequate supplies in laboratory.
• Update procedures manual.
• Daily and preventive maintenance on all equipment, i.e., filament changing, cleaning column and specimen holder, and daily alignment of the electron microscope.

Teaching duties:

• Assist or train faculty to operate both transmission (TEM) and scanning electron microscopes properly.
• Teach residents to operate the TEM and also expose them to the complete EM technique as well as interpretation of ultra-structural morphology during their monthly rotation.
• Collect characteristic electron micrographs in order to start a library.
• Train other EM personnel when needed.

Technical duties:

• Prepare all necessary chemicals, reagents, and supplies.
• Pick-up biopsy samples from Surgical Pathology.
• Sample preparation – includes fixation, dehydration, infiltration and embedding the blocks into proper mold.
• Microtomy of 1 micrometer thickness section, stained with Toluidine Blue.
• Telephone the pathologists or investigators to make arrangements to view slides.
• Ultramicrotomy of 70 nm ultrathin sections stained with lead citrate.
• Examine under electron microscope.
• Acquire, maintain and instruct regarding use of EM digital image equipment, software, and archival system.
• File blocks, slides, grids, negatives, and prints.
• Deliver and present micrographs to the investigator to report the findings orally.
• Maintain quality control in the lab, updated quality improvement monthly on I-space, and dispose of chemicals properly according to EHS regulations. Maintain laboratory clean and organized at all times.
• Use computer applications for digital images production and storage.

Research Duties:

• Library literature searching to keep up with newly developed techniques and knowledge.
• Assist faculty, residents, and staff in implementing new procedures and set-up new apparatus according to each individual’s interest.
• Offer suggestions and troubleshooting to users and potential users.