Research Assistant

About the Job

The Graduate Assistant position is available in the Pulmonary Vascular Biology Laboratory to investigate the molecular andcellular mechanisms underlying pulmonary vascular remodeling andright ventricular adaptation in pulmonary hypertension reporting toDr. Aleksandra Babicheva. The successful candidate will combineexperimental physiology with computational biology andbioinformatics approaches to analyze multi-dimensional biologicaldatasets and generate new mechanistic insights. This position is expected to work four hours a day Monday-Friday.

This position iscovered by the Graduate Labor Union-United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America Local 1105. Appointments are offeredeach semester according to UMN academic calendars. The employerretains the right to change or assign other duties to this position as needed. The Final date to receive applications is September 4, 2026.

• Maintain mouse colonies (i.e., breeding and genotyping), managinglab research records (e.g., methodological approaches, experimentalrecords, and protocols).
• Work with others in the lab to assist with the pharmacologicalexperiments in rodents including sample collection to test the therapeutic potential of drugs to treat pulmonary hypertension andright heart failure.
• Conduct laboratory-based research using cellular and animalmodels of cardiopulmonary disease and performing molecular biology,cell biology, histology, microscopy, and physiologicalexperiments.
• Design a method to isolate pulmonary vascular endothelial andsmooth muscle cells from human and animal specimens.
• Processing and analyzing transcriptomic datasets (bulk RNA-seqand/or single-cell RNA-seq), performing differential gene expression, pathway enrichment, and gene ontology analyses,integrating publicly available genomic and transcriptomic datasetswith laboratory-generated data, developing reproducible data analysis workflows using R and/or Python.
• Organizing supplies, materials or equipment and setting-up equipment for laboratory experiments or demonstrations; may perform minor equipment maintenance. Operating laboratory and experimental equipment such as microscopes, fluorescent microscopes,centrifuges, analytical balances, cell incubators, cell/tissuestorage tank; making minor repairs and arrangements for major repairs to be performed.
• Responsibilities will include data acquisition and analysis,grant and manuscript preparation, and presentation of findingsduring weekly lab meetings.
• Cleaning glassware and other laboratory equipment or materials using appropriate standards; keeping laboratory area clean.

• Design and implementation of hypothesis-driven research projects.

• Analysis and review of generated data.
• Review of scientific literature.

• Preparation of manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
• Preparation of grants proposals for submission to seek researchfunding.

The Research and Innovation Office (RIO) and The Hormel Instituteendorses a “work with flexibility” approach that offers a welcoming and flexible work environment where everyone is inspired to dotheir best. Work location options include working fully remote,partially remote, or entirely in the office and are based on thework of the position. Some on-site work may be necessary for certain positions, even those designated as fully remote.

Becausewe are a land-grant institution that serves the state, the University will continue to- in most cases- expect employees tolive in Minnesota.

This position has been designated as eligible for Flexible Work Profile One.

Flexible Work Profile One, Office/Lab-Based - is expected to work primarily on-site in the office/lab. Only occasionally andinconsistently working remotely. Your office will be located at The Hormel Institute in Austin, Minnesota. The Hormel Institutemanagement retains the right to modify flexible work arrangementagreements on a temporary or permanent basis for any reason at anytime.

• Bachelor's degree.
• Previous laboratory experience.
• Understanding of basic molecular techniques.
• Excellent…