SEARCH CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

GENERAL SUMMARY OF POSITION:  

Under the direction of the Principal Investigator or designee, the Research Associate III performs a variety of complex research experiments.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Perform complex laboratory experiments and may be responsible for one or more independent research projects
• Utilize all software relevant to experiment and equipment used
• Interpret data, form conclusions and decide on next steps with a significant degree of independence while under the direction of the PI or designee
• Maintain accurate records, may modify protocols with the approval of the PI or designee
• Review literature, publications and grants relevant to assigned projects
• Record results according to established lab, sponsor & university protocol
• Perform in-depth data analysis and/or mathematical computations
• Maintain a detailed lab notebook according to lab practice
• Compile and analyze data, and present in a format suitable for publication according to PI specifications
• Present findings at lab/group meetings and other forums
• May oversee laboratory supply levels and order as noted; negotiate with suppliers to optimize available resources
• Monitor laboratory equipment service contracts and monitor maintenance on laboratory equipment
• Prepare and label buffers, media, solutions, etc.
• Assist with and comply with all safety regulation and infection control standards
• Train on IACUC, IRB, EHS, Radiation safety protocols; may write standard operation procedures in compliance to protocols and specific regulations for the lab
• Comply with all applicable state, federal university, and sponsor policies and agreements
• May manage general operations of the laboratory, including lab personnel, procedures and projects
• Identify problems and challenges, propose resolutions, implement appropriate solutions
• May create new protocols and/or modify defined protocols, as necessary, and with the approval of the PI
• Prioritize and perform several tasks or procedures simultaneously with attention to detail
• Perform duties and experiments with independence
• Provide training of new lab personnel
• May monitor laboratory spending in accordance with budgets guidelines provided by PI or designee
• May assist with budget and/or operational aspects of grant and contract funding
• May assist with drafting manuscripts sections
• Perform other duties as require

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:  

• Bachelors degree in Biological or Natural Science and 3+ years of relevant research experience or a related Masters degree with 1 year of relevant research experience.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office products
• Strong ability to analyze complex visual data in a quantitative and objective manner
• Ability to work in a team environmen

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

Under the direction of the Principal Investigator, or designee

SUPERVISION EXERCISED: 

May functionally supervise aides, technicians, and associates

ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING CONDITIONS:

Wet chemistry laboratory, and may require appropriate contact with biohazards, radionuclides, toxins, animals, and human specimens.

Ramirez-Ortiz Lab studies the role of scavenger receptors in efferocytosis, with a focus on autoimmunity. Currently, we are trying to dissect the function of SCARF1 in Lupus. Research associate will work under the direction of Principal Investigator/Project leader, and perform a variety of technical duties involving (but not limited to) aiding in experiments, lab maintenance and animal work to support the research projects. 

Required Responsibilities:

-Work under the direction of the Principal Investigator

-Perform a variety of technical duties such as: Western Blots, qPCR, flow cytometry, protein extraction, cloning, genotyping

-Prepare culture media (tissue cultures and bacterial), solutions and chemical reagents

-To order and maintain equipment

-To keep track of consumables and lab reagents (inventory)

-Maintain lab notebooks and lab reports

-To carry out any additional duties as may reasonably be required within the scope of the grant

Required Techniques:

-Tissue culture, bacterial culture, PCR, qPCR, Western blot, ELISA, basic microscopy

-Word, Excel, Power Point

Additional Techniques:

-Flow cytometry, basic knowledge on animal care and handling, cloning, transfections

-GraphPad Prism, Flojo