Research Assistant- IL- Physiology

Summary:

The Department of Physiology at Midwestern University, Downers Grove is looking for a motivated, enthusiastic, and scientifically curious Research Assistant to provide research support for faculty members in the Department of Physiology. The Research Assistant is expected to assist in the: design and execution of animal, cellular, and human based research projects; data collection and analysis; and preparation of figures for manuscripts for peer-reviewed publications.

The candidate should have experience working with laboratory mice. This position will report to the Chair of the Department.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Maintain transgenic mouse colonies under faculty supervision:
  Mice breeding, handling, ear tagging, drug delivery via intraperitoneal, intramuscular, or subcutaneous injections, genotyping (obtain tail snips and perform PCR analyses), and accurate maintenance of colony records.
• Cell culture maintenance under faculty supervision:
  Generation, propagation and maintenance of sterile cell cultures and intestinal organoids, performing basic in vitro experiments, including but not limited to harvesting, splitting, and freezing cells, drug delivery to cultures, protein, and RNA extractions.
• Competently perform standard molecular biology techniques (western blot, gel electrophoresis, RT-PCR, qPCR, chromatin immunoprecipitations, immunohistochemistry, molecular cloning, etc.) under faculty supervision.
• Use specialized computer software to collect and analyze physiological (cardio-pulmonary) and cognitive data from humans under faculty supervision.
• Graph, analyze, and evaluate generated data, and contribute to abstract submissions and poster preparation.
• Maintain an accurate lab notebook and assist with trouble-shooting technical issues.
• Assist in literature searches for protocol development and optimization.
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of lab, lab equipment, and supplies.
• Adhere to laboratory safety and regulatory procedures and maintain lab chemical inventory.
• Obtain quotes and perform ordering and receiving duties for lab supplies.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Must be able to work in a constant state of alertness and safe manner and have regular, predictable, in-person attendance. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Education and/or

Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in biological sciences related field from an accredited college is required. Previous laboratory skills including experience with fluorescence microscopy, and molecular biology techniques including western blot, PCR, and cell and tissue culture maintenance are all desired preferred. Previous experience training students is desired.

This individual must have flexible schedule and be willing to occasionally work late hours, weekends, and potentially overtime. Must be willing to work with animal and human cell lines.

Computer

Skills:

Computer proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) required. Experience with statistics, graphing and imaging software is preferred. Experience using data acquisition systems/equipment, as well as data processing, is desired. Computer programming skills are desired.

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This individual is frequently required to stand,…