Senior Histology Specialist

Senior Histology Specialist - $10k Sign-On Bonus*

Join Our Team!

• Full-time | M-F | 11:00 AM - 7:30 PM

Why Join Us?

• Rare opportunity to be part of a highly specialized histology team at Mass General.
• Learn new and exciting techniques.
• Serve the patients in your community.

Job Overview

• Reports to: Laboratory Supervisor
• Role: Perform routine lab functions to produce histologic preparations for examination.

Key Responsibilities

• Tissue Processing: Fix, dehydrate, clear, and impregnate tissues with paraffin wax.
• Specimen Embedding: Ensure proper orientation and produce 4-micron sections.
• Slide Preparation: Float sections, collect on glass slides, dry, and stain with routine and special stains.
• Quality Control: Examine slides with a microscope, ensure blocks and slides are correct, assemble and distribute slides.
• Technique Modification: Adapt techniques and apparatus to meet quality standards.
• Rapid Frozen Section Diagnosis: Prepare specimens using liquid nitrogen and a cryostat microtome, and stain frozen sections.
• Solution Preparation: Share responsibility for preparing solutions and reagents.
• Record Keeping: Maintain accurate records of blocks and slides, and use LIS system for daily operations.
• Off-Hours Coverage: Responsible for pager coverage on a rotating basis.

Skills and Abilities

• Correctly and accurately embed a wide variety of tissues.
• Follow national cutting standards: 50 blocks per hour embedding, 30 slides per hour cutting.
• Perform high-quality manual H&E stains and certain special stains.
• Follow established technical, safety, and clerical procedures.
• Possess manual dexterity and motor coordination.
• Attentive to detail and precise in performing technical tasks.
• Fundamental knowledge of histo-technique and laboratory instrumentation.
• Prepare percent, molar, and normal solutions and stains.

Qualifications

• Education:




• Minimum of a high school degree or graduate of an NCCALS-approved school of Histotechnology.




• Experience:




• 5 years of clinical experience, OR
• 4-5 years of histology experience in a research setting, OR
• Histology Specialist A.




• Certifications:




• HT, HTL (ASCP) certified or eligible.

Key Skills and Competencies

• Technical Proficiency:




• Embed a wide variety of tissues accurately.
• Meet cutting standards: 50 blocks per hour embedding and 30 slides per hour cutting.
• Cut artifact-free four micrometer sections.




• Staining Techniques:




• Perform high-quality manual H&E stains.
• Execute special stains like AFB, Alcian blue, Brown-Hopps, Congo red, Elastic, Iron, LHE, Mucicarmine, PAS, GMS, Thiazine, and Trichrome.




• Procedural Compliance:




• Follow established technical, safety, and clerical procedures.
• Possess manual dexterity and motor coordination.




• Attention to Detail:




• Perform tasks with precision.
• Have knowledge of basic histo-techniques including fixation, decalcification, processing, embedding, microtomy, routine and special stains, and frozen sections.




• Laboratory Instrumentation:




• Understand instruments like pH meters, balances, hydrometers, microtomes, cryostats, coverslippers, and tissue processors.




• Solution Preparation:




• Prepare percent, molar, and normal solutions and stains.

*Current MGB employees or former employees (separated from the MGB organization for less than 1 year) are not eligible for the sign on bonus

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.