The posting
Job Description
The Staff Research Associate (SRA) assists the principal investigator (PI) with active experiments and the daily tasks related to the operation of a biomedical research laboratory. This is a great opportunity for individuals interested in graduate school in the biomedical sciences.
Our research is primarily focused on: 1) chronic hypoxia sensing and adaptation, 2) mechanisms of pericarditis, and 3) lipid metabolism in hypoxia. We seek to understand how cells, tissues, and organisms respond and adapt to chronic hypoxia at the molecular and whole-body physiology levels. We utilize a variety of in vitro (cell) models and mouse models to investigate specific transcription factors, gene and protein regulatory pathways, and metabolic changes in mediating responses under hypoxia. This work lies at the intersection of hypoxia signaling, lipid metabolism, and cardiovascular disease. We have developed models of cardiovascular disease that are affected by chronic hypoxia, including pulmonary hypertension, heart failure, and obesity. We use various biochemical assays, “multi-omics,” and computational approaches to carefully dissect mechanisms of hypoxia adaptation and lipid rewiring in hypoxia. In addition, we are interested in dissecting mechanisms of recurrent pericarditis, using mouse models of pericarditis and patient samples.
The SRA will have many duties relevant to these goals and it is expected that they will become increasing independent over time. It is expected that the SRA will become well-versed in multiple molecular and biochemical techniques to analyze tissues and cells, such as western blotting, qPCR, single nuclear RNA sequencing, and generation of DNA constructs. They will also assist with various mouse model experiments and take an active role in mouse colony maintenance and lab organization and lab management.
Responsibilities
%
of time
Essential Function (Yes/No)
Key Responsibilities
(To be completed by Supervisor)
10
Yes
General mouse husbandry and mouse colony maintenance (including breeding, tagging of animals, monitoring mice in different O2 tensions, and PCR genotyping).
50
Yes
Standard biochemistry and molecular biology techniques including protein isolation (nuclear and cytosolic extracts), western blotting, RNA/DNA isolation, quantitative RT-PCR, PCR, primer generation, agarose gel electrophoresis, DNA cloning, chromatin immunoprecipitation.
15
Yes
In vivo mouse experiments, including exposing mice to different O2 tensions, monitoring weights, collecting serum, measuring glucose levels, paired feeding protocols, treating mice with various compounds and small molecules, monitoring activity levels and strength
5
Yes
Standard data analysis techniques including an ability to manipulate data in spreadsheet format and generate plots, charts, tables, and presentations. Basic bioinformatics of data sets (for example using R, Python, or Matlab)
15
Yes
Standard tissue culture techniques including propagation of mammalian cell lines, transient and stable transfection of cultured cells, genetic manipulation of cultured cells, treatment of cells with various compounds, exposure to different O2 tensions, isolation of DNA/RNA/protein from cultured cells, and cell viability assays.
5
Yes
Ordering reagents, organizing laboratory inventory, maintaining antibody and reagent databases, and other various administrative tasks. Preparation of data slides and experiment updates.
100%
(To update total %, enter the amount of time in whole numbers (without the % symbol - e.g., 15, 20) then highlight the total sum (e.g., 1%) at the bottom of the column and press F9. The total sum should add up to 100%.)
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
SRA 1
- BA/BS in a related science (background in general biology, molecular biology, cell biology, genetics, and chemistry) ; or an equivalent training/experience.
- Prior publications or significant contributions to manuscripts
SRA 2 NEX
- In addition to the above, one year of recent, directly related work experience following degree completion utilizing techniques and methods required by the position
Additional requirements;
- Experience with mouse colony maintenance and mouse breeding
- Experience with mouse tissue dissections
- Experience with molecular cloning and biochemistry
- Experience with basic cell culture techniques
- Experience accurately and successfully performing DNA and protein gel electrophoresis; western blotting; PCR; quantitative RT-PCR; standard cell culture; and DNA/RNA extractions from animal tissues and cell culture samples
- Demonstrated knowledge of molarity, sterile technique, standard Mendelian genetic inheritance, and general microbiology
- Demonstrated ability to perform standard data analysis and basic bioinformatics programming (such as Python, R, or Matlab)
- Demonstrated ability to multi-task and present/organize data
- Familiarity with experimental design (controls, technical vs biological replicates)
- Ability to independently analyze data (including Excel, Prism, Word; bioinformatics) and devise follow up/trouble shooting experiments
- Strong scientific writing skills (including writing hypotheses, aims, approaches, and anticipated results)
- Ability to review and discuss scientific literature
- Ability to compile data and summarize research findings (both verbally and written)
- Ability to maintain well organized workflows and protocols
- Strong knowledge of cardiovascular physiology and hypoxia-associated diseases (such as pulmonary hypertension and heart failure)
- Strong knowledge of lipid metabolism
- Ability to update lab website
- Lab managerial skills (such as following up with vendors, submitting orders on BearBuy, coordinating meetings with others in the lab and collaborators)
Preferred Qualifications:
- BA/BS degree in a field relevant to biomedical research (e.g., biology, chemistry, molecular biology, pre-medicine track)
- MS degree in field relevant to biomedical research
- Experience with rodent handling and experiments, including delivery of compounds via tail vein injection, intra-peritoneal injections, and oral gavage
- Previous basic science research experience
