Research Assistant

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.

Harvard Medical School's mission is to nurture a diverse, inclusive community dedicated to alleviating suffering and improving health and well-being for all through excellence in teaching and learning, discovery and scholarship, and service and leadership.

You’ll be at the heart of biomedical discovery, education, and innovation, working alongside world-renowned faculty and a community dedicated to improving human health. This is more than a job - it’s an opportunity to shape the future of medicine.

The Sinclair Lab is at the forefront of research on genes and small molecules that delay or reverse aging. Our work allows for the safe manipulation of tissue age to improve symptoms of aging and age-associated diseases. This technology has potential applications in combating cancer, blindness, diabetes, and neurodegeneration.

We are seeking a dedicated, highly organized Laboratory Technician to help advance our research on aging and associated disorders as well as methods to mitigate them. This role involves characterizing the aging dynamics of cells and animals in both healthy and diseased states and assisting in the development of age-reversal interventions as potential therapeutics. The successful candidate will employ both in vitro and in vivo (mouse model) experimental approaches under the guidance of senior researchers and must be enthusiastic about learning new techniques across a wide range of experimental settings.

A major component of this position will be support of our mouse research program. This includes routine colony management (breeding, weaning, and basic health monitoring), experimental procedures such as oral gavage and injections, blood and tissue collection (e.g., cheek bleeds, perfusions, dissections), and participation in physiological (frailty, metabolic, behavioral, etc.) assessments. Prior experience with all of these techniques is not required;

however, comfort working with mice, a strong interest in animal-based research, and a commitment to following detailed protocols with technical precision are essential.

In addition to animal work, the technician will be trained in and expected to execute tissue and molecular analyses such as immunohistochemistry (IHC), microscopy, tissue sectioning, and standard bench techniques (e.g., RNA/DNA extraction, PCR, Western blotting, and basic bioinformatics/data processing). Prior experience with these skills is useful but not required. The ideal candidate will be meticulous and reliable, with excellent organizational skills, careful record-keeping, and strong communication with the PI and other lab members.

• Maintain mouse colonies, including breeding, weening, health monitoring, and experimental scheduling.
• Perform experimental procedures in mice (e.g., handling, gavage, injections, blood and tissue collection, behavioral testing) under supervision and in accordance with approved protocols.
• Tissue processing and staining (e.g., IHC).
• Perform standard experimental tests and procedures (e.g., basic molecular biology and biochemistry assays) with high technical precision.
• Accurately record, organize, and document experimental procedures, observations, and results using established laboratory techniques and data management systems.
• Communicate progress, issues, and results clearly to supervising researchers.
• Help maintain an…