Research Assistant Lab

Company Description

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health is a world-renowned institution dedicated to advancing public health through cutting‑edge research, education, and global collaboration. Our school is a special place to work because of its vibrant, mission‑driven community, interdisciplinary approach, and commitment to addressing some of the most pressing health challenges worldwide. We foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment where innovation, continuous learning, and work‑life balance are valued.

Learn more about the School's mission, objectives, and core values, our Principles of Citizenship, and about the Dean's AAA vision about our school's ongoing strategic initiatives.

The mission of the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health is to improve human health through better nutrition and lifestyle. The Department strives to accomplish this goal through research aimed at an increased understanding of how diet influences health at molecular and population levels, the development of nutritional strategies, informing policy, the education of researchers and practitioners, and the dissemination of nutrition information to health professionals and the public.

The Nutritional Biomarker Lab is a core facility within the Department of Nutrition, specializing in assays to measure a variety of physiologically‑relevant biomolecules. Fatty acids, antioxidants, and lipoproteins play significant roles in human health, and the quantification of these important molecules provide insights into metabolic and inflammatory processes that underpin a variety of pathologies.

We are seeking a Research Assistant (RA) to help with assessing fatty acids from large patient studies. The RA will be performing solvent‑based extractions of fatty acids from human samples, performing GC‑FID characterization of FA constituents, and then analyzing chromatographic data to measure relative levels of key FA's. Following data analysis, results are compiled into reports for review with the lab manager.

Tasks associated with routine GC maintenance, monitoring of consumables used, and efficient chromatography data analysis will be key to this role.

• Organic phase extraction from human blood, human tissues, and food products
• Operation and maintenance of GC‑FID and other chromatography instruments such as HPLC
• Conduct an ELISA assays
• Operate and maintain chemical analyzers
• Integration of chromatograms, reduction of data, and generation of raw data forms for further evaluation
• Reviewing integrated data with lab manager, discussion of operational performance and assay troubleshooting
• Monitoring of lab supplies; stock and ordering supplies when necessary
• Maintenance of lab equipment and general lab housekeeping such as conducting samples and supplies inventories
• Other duties as assigned

PLEASE NOTE:

The schedule for this position is Monday‑Friday, 9AM‑5PM and some scheduling flexibility may be required.

• Must be able to sit and/or stand at lab bench for several hours at a time
• Must be able to lift 50 pounds

• 1+ years of related experience required; a combination of education and experience may be considered

• Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry, Chemistry, or related field but Master's degree preferred
• Experience in a laboratory setting
• Proficiency with chemical lab instrumentation and wet lab experience
• Basic lab skills such as solutions preparation, pipetting, and general lab safety techniques
• Prior experience with chromatographic instrumentation, especially GC, HPLC, and ELISA including data analysis
• Experience with Microsoft Excel and Word

• Appointment End Date: One year from date of hire
• Standard Hours/
  
  Schedule:
  
  35 hours per…