Research Assistant

Case Western Reserve University is committed to providing a transparent estimate of the salary range available for this position at the time of its posting. The salary range is between $52,705 and $66,672, depending on qualifications, experience, department budgets, and industry data. Employees receive more than just a paycheck. University employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare, retirement plans, tuition assistance, paid time off, and a winter recess.

Working with a high degree of independence and under general direction, the Research Assistant 4 will coordinate major activities in medical and related technical areas. This individual will serve as a senior technical laboratory resource supporting both human biospecimen-based investigations and preclinical animal experimentation. Responsibilities include execution of advanced biochemical and immunologic assays, conduct of complex animal procedures including survival surgeries and perioperative care, laboratory workflow coordination, maintenance of regulatory and experimental records, and preliminary analysis of experimental findings.

This position will function independently, provide technical expertise across multiple active projects, and offer flexible support based on laboratory workflow demands. This position works with animals.

• Provide input and recommendation to principal investigator regarding significant developments in research projects including experimental progress, assay performance, animal model execution, troubleshooting of laboratory procedures, interpretation of preliminary biochemical and immunologic findings, and optimization of workflow across human and animal translational studies in pulmonary and critical care research. (15%)
• Coordinate major activities of laboratory and research activities supporting translational pulmonary and critical care investigations, including human biospecimen processing, biochemical assays related to hemolysis and immune function, animal research workflows, surgical study coordination, specimen tracking, laboratory scheduling, reagent inventory, regulatory documentation, and maintenance of efficient day-to-day laboratory operations. (25%)
• May supervise research assistants and technicians. May provide technical oversight, procedural guidance, workflow delegation, and training to research assistants, laboratory technicians, trainees, and junior personnel involved in laboratory assays, animal studies, specimen handling, and research documentation to ensure adherence to protocol and laboratory standards. (9%)
• Co-author research projects. Contribute to scholarly research activities through technical input related to experimental design, methodologic refinement, data interpretation, figure preparation, and assistance with manuscript development, abstracts, and scientific presentations arising from active translational research projects. (6%)
• Perform the most complex quantitative analytical procedures. Independently perform advanced biochemical, immunologic, and translational laboratory procedures, including assays associated with hemolysis biology, inflammatory mediator quantification, immunologic functional analyses, biospecimen processing, and other complex experimental methodologies requiring technical expertise, precision, quality control, and independent troubleshooting. (30%)
• Teach and instruct laboratory personnel, trainees, students, and research staff in appropriate laboratory methodologies, animal research procedures, assay execution, documentation practices, regulatory compliance, and technical best practices to ensure consistent and high-quality research performance. (6%)
• Assist in the development, refinement, and implementation of laboratory standard operating procedures, experimental workflows, documentation processes, and coordination of research activities with investigators, clinical research personnel, institutional animal research teams, and collaborating laboratories as needed. (9%)

Perform other duties as assigned. (