Laboratory Research Assistant

Job Overview

BIOCHEMISTRY (BL-BIOC-IUBLA)
The Macromolecular Crystallography Facility (MCF) Integrated with the Crystallization Automation Facility (CAF) provides all the equipment necessary to facilitate research in all aspects of Structural Biology at Indiana University Bloomington (IUB). New instrumentation allows high throughput macromolecular crystallography using advanced robotics. The Phoenix Dual Tip (DT) and Gryphon Lipidic Cubic Phase (LCP) drop setter robots commercialized by Art Robbins Instruments can set up crystallization trails with high accuracy and minimizing the total amount of purified sample used during the screening.

The Minstrel High-Throughput (HT) ultraviolet (UV) (Rigaku) is a fully automated high-throughput ultraviolet and visible crystal imaging and protein crystal monitoring system, which is coupled to 2 Gallerya HT incubator storage systems. Using the Crystal Trak software in situ or online the users can control, optimize, visualize and document automatically all the crystallization screening process. In addition, the Alchemist DT (Rigaku) also connected to Crystal Trak software, allows automatic liquid handling for protein crystallization optimization, eliminating the tedious process of solution preparation and dispensing by hand.

Stereoscopes coupled to high-definition cameras and supplies for crystal manipulation are also provided by the facility. Moreover, computational resources facilitate structure determination and refinement with the latest programs available. In addition, IUB is a member institution in the Molecular Biology Consortium, which allows for easy and very frequent remote synchrotron access on beamline 4.2.2 at the Advanced Light Source (ALS), a part of Lawrence Berkeley National Labs in Berkeley, California.

Therefore, testing for crystal/diffraction quality and/or data collection is done effortless and time-effectively. MCF/CAF was founded to facilitate and encourage research endeavors in structural biology and to provide centralized resources for training and education in latest crystallographic and structural biology techniques. If you have any questions or need more information, please feel free to contact the Facility Manager, Giovanni Gonzalez-Gutierrez.

The Physical Biochemistry Instrumentation Facility (PBIF) supports research in structures, st abilities, and interactions of biomolecules. Thorough hands-on training, state-of-the-art instrumentation, and analysis software are available 24 hours a day, and equipment time may be booked around the clock via a web-based reservation system. The PBIF is directed by a Ph.D. scientist who assists researchers in the design, implementation, and analysis of experiments and results.

The PBIF and CAF are located in Simon Hall Multidisciplinary Science Building (MSB-1) receiving hundreds of users monthly. Both are equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation, facilitating research for many groups in Biochemistry, Biology, and Chemistry Departments.

• Supports and assists a variety of research projects, jointly with the supervisor, by maintaining lab operations on a daily, weekly and monthly basis
• Acts as manager for PBIF
• Keeps facility organized and ensures continuous operation
• Performs scholarly research and trains other personnel in PBIF (such as students) in standard techniques used in the lab
• Assists users in experiments, automated and manual dispensing of commercial screens, crystallography screenings, sample preparation, crystal optimization, crystal harvesting, and data collection
• Assists users in PBIF with experiments, sample preparation, and measurement
• Performs data entry, organization and maintenance of files, upkeep of lab calendar, and monthly billing
• Monitors and assesses consumables inventory and orders supplies as needed
• Develops standard operating procedures for lab instrumentation and modifies these procedures as appropriate
• Monitors lab usage to ensure safe and efficient use of facilities

• Manages for the initiation, monitoring, completion, and reporting of routine to moderately complex research studies
• Organizes and implements data review and analysis
• Oversees the proper handling of laboratory specimens including processes, shipping, storage, and documentation and transfer to designated central laboratories
• Conducts data quality assurance practices
• Prepares research summaries and assists in progress report development
• Maintains laboratory work areas and supply inventory

Required

• Bachelor's degree in science or health-related discipline

Preferred

• Master's degree in biology, biochemistry, chemistry, science, or a health-related discipline

• Some lab experience
• 1 year of experience in structural biology

Required

• Proficient written and verbal communication skills
• Maintains a high degree of professionalism
• Demonstrates time management and priority setting skills
• Demonstrates a high commitment to quality
• Possesses flexibility to work in a fast…