SP - Research Assistant 1

The University of Connecticut Health Center is an affirmative action employer, in addition to an EEO and M/F/V/PWD/PV employer.

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics which may be found ics.state.ct.us .

UConn Health is a vibrant, integrated academic medical center that is entering an era of unprecedented growth in all three areas of its mission: academics, research, and clinical care. A commitment to human health and well‑being has been of utmost importance to UConn Health since the founding of the University of Connecticut schools of Medicine and Dental Medicine in 1961. Based on a strong foundation of groundbreaking research, first‑rate education, and quality clinical care, we have expanded our medical missions over the decades.

In just over 50 years, UConn Health has evolved to encompass more research endeavors, to provide more ways to access our superior care, and to innovate both practical medicine and our methods of educating the practitioners of tomorrow.

The Department of Medicine in the School of Medicine is seeking applications for one (1) Special Payroll Research Assistant to work in a lab that specializes in spirochete research with a strong emphasis on bacterial gene regulation. This position is 24hrs with up to 32 hours when needed per week for approximately 12 months.

At the UCHC this class is accountable for performing the basic laboratory and/or related support tasks for assigned research projects/programs or segments of programs/projects.

Works under the close supervision of an employee of higher grade; works more independently with acquired experience

May lead paraprofessional clerical or other lower ranking employees as assigned.

• Prepare simple to moderately complex buffers and reagents, including performing chemical calculations and adjusting pH according to prescribed protocols with minimal supervision; and prepare liquid and semi-solid microbiological media using aseptic technique.
• Purify DNA and RNA from bacterial culture and/or animal tissues according to prescribed protocols with moderate supervision.
• Perform recombinant cloning using simple techniques, including ligation-independent cloning; prepare DNA for Sanger sequencing; transform chemically competent
  
  E. coli and Borrelia burgdorferi; analyze bacterial transformants by PCR amplification; and prepare samples for Sanger sequencing.
• Express recombinant proteins in
  
  E. coli; purify recombinant proteins using affinity and size-exclusion chromatography; and analyze bacterial cell lysates and recombinant proteins by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting according to prescribed protocols with minimal to moderate supervision.
• Handle Borrelia burgdorferi cultures using aseptic technique; examine and enumerate
  
  B. burgdorferi cultures using darkfield microscopy according to prescribed techniques; prepare liquid cultures and solid agar plates of bacterial samples; and prepare bacterial specimens for analysis using simple techniques according to prescribed protocols.
• Handling and maintenance of small animals (rodents); perform simple procedures on animals, including needle inoculation and collection of serum for analysis using prescribed protocols under moderate supervision.
• Maintain Ixodes tick colony and perform tick feeding and infection experiments.
• Maintain data in laboratory notebooks and other research-related records.
• Work with laboratory personnel to maintain inventory and restock supplies; maintain laboratory equipment; and ensure cleanliness of laboratory work spaces.

Basic knowledge of research protocols, principles and procedures; basic knowledge of scientific techniques such as tissue culturing, reagent/solution preparation, staining, etc.; basic knowledge of experimental design, mathematics, statistics, computer applications, laboratory equipment and procedures; basic knowledge of a science such as; chemistry,

biology, microbiology, pharmacology; basic knowledge of physical and data resources in application scientific disciplines; oral and written communication skills;…