Biotechnology Technical Skills

Be able to use analytical chemistry to identify the presence of and the measure the concentration of specific items.

Use a data set to understand and draw conclusions about a sample. The analysis may include graphing, statistics, and presenting work in tables.

Maintain records, draw blood, monitor health, maintain a healthy environment with clean cages. An animal care specialist needs to be observant and notice if animals seem sick or behave in an unusual fashion.

Be able to purify and properly store antibodies and perform a variety of techniques where antibodies are used.

Work with biological or sterile materials without contamination.

Be able to use a variety of assays for measurement, record, analyze, and plot the resulting data. Understand how to prepare and use a standard curve.

Safely operate an autoclave to sterilize glassware, media, or waste.

Understand buffers and know why they are used.

Monitor production runs, complete cell culture maintenance tasks (passaging, seeing, harvesting, concentrating).

Demonstrate proper gowning and cleanroom behavior.

Use Microsoft Office programs such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Word or another writing program would be used to prepare technical documents and write reports. Excel is used to create spreadsheets, tables, and graphs, and for data analysis. PowerPoint is used to present results. Database skills ...

Enter data promptly and accurately

Perform database searches to locate test methods and specifications

Extract genomic and / or plasmid DNA

Promptly and accurately enter information, calculate, and report results.

Use an electronic laboratory notebook for recording and reporting results.

Perform Enzyme Linked Immunoassays (ELISAs) and use software to plot and analyze the data.

Know how to evaluate the quality of air, surfaces, and personnel through testing and sample analysis

Use bulk dispensing to fill vials with sterile drug product.

Prepare and stain cells for flow cytometry analysis, operate a flow cytometer, troubleshoot problems, collect and analyze flow cytometry data.

Prepare samples and use a gas chromatograph to identify materials.

Undersand how to use GC-MS and analyze the results

Use agarose or polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to seperate DNA or proteins.

Use an HPLC to separate, purify, and analyze materials.

Perform in-process sampling and testing during production using analytical laboratory instruments.

Be able to operate a variety of laboratory equipment including autoclaves, warm rooms, water baths, shakers, and centrifuges.

Be able to wash, sterilize, and store laboratory glassware

Be able to perform a variety of laboratory activites including measurement, calculations, preparing materials, and operating laboratory instruments and equipment. Understand how precipitation, dialysis, and centrifugation are used separate materials.

Be able to perform a variety of laboratory techniques such as material preparation, gel electrophoresis, protein purification, and culturing microorganisms.

Enter data, maintain, and organize instrument calibration and maintenance logbooks.

Work in a biosafety hood, use aseptic technique, start cultures (seeding), count cells, maintain cells, split (passaging), use cryopreservation to store cells.

Uses a mass spectrometer to obtain data

Perform mathematical calculations, including addition, subtraction, division, multiplication, ratios, and percentages. Must be able to use proportions, understand orders of magnitude, convert units, and use dimensional analysis.

Prepare and sterilize media for a variety of organisms

Use an inverted, standard, and fluorescent microscope for examining and counting cells.

Be able to use a fork lift to safely move materials from one place to another.

Identify when materials do not meet specified criteria and perform out of specification testing as needed.

Be able to set up reactions and use PCR (polymerase chain reaction) for a variety of applications.

Demonstrate proper gowning technique and use of personal protective equipment.

Adjust and measure pH, demonstrate proper use and calibration of pH meters

Use a variety of pipettes and micropipettors to transfer correct volumes of liquids

Plant care involves propagating, feeding, watering, and potting plants. Plant care also involves observing plants and noticing changes that might indicate disease or poor health.

Be able to comply with a set of procedures that ensure that a product meets defined criteria.

Follow SOPs to prepare reagents

Carry out laboratory work and field work without endangering yourself or others.

Be able to follow standard operating procedures for preparing samples.

Prepare solutions that contain one or more ingredients and a variety of concentrations (M, N, weight %, weight/volume). This involves using dry ingredients and /or stock solutions and includes adjusting the pH.

Use Microsoft Excel to create tables, graph data, and carry out calculations

Follow SOPs and adhere to quality guidelines.

Be able to use amounts of reagents to measure a concentration

Use ultra filtration during biopharmaceutical manufacturing to separate particulate matter from soluble materials.

Use UV / Vis spectrophotometers to measure the concentration of materials and use the Beer Lambert Law

Use an analytical balance or scale to determine the weight of a sample.

Use polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, blotting apparatus, and reagents to perform a western blot