Laboratory Research Assistant - Stark Neurosciences Research Institute

STARK NEUROSCIENCES RES INST (IN-SNRI-IUINA)

Stark Neurosciences Research Institute's mission is to bring together the scientific community in a dynamic, collaborative organization that advances discovery of neuroscience-related disease mechanisms and therapeutic strategies, as well as disseminates and applies this knowledge to prevent, treat and cure disease. Stark Neurosciences Research Institute's research is not only reflected across departments at Indiana University (IU) School of Medicine, but at several universities and institutions.

This role is critical in ensuring the safe, compliant, and efficient functioning of shared resources and to support investigators' labs on the neuroscience research floors (9-10) within the Medical Education and Research Building (MERB), the SNRI labs located at the Biotechnology Research and Training Center (BRTC), and to provide backup support at the Neurosciences Research Building (NB) as needed.

• Maintains and troubleshoots essential laboratory equipment, including CO incubators, biosafety cabinets, laminar flow hoods, centrifuges, freezers, autoclaves, dishwashers, and specialized instrumentation.
• Executes regulatory compliance activities, supporting Biosafety, Radiation Safety, Laboratory Safety, IACUC, and IRB standards.
• Ensures biological and hazardous waste management, ensuring safe, timely, and compliant processing of regulated waste streams.
• Ensures environmental control and lab readiness, including cleaning, equipment sanitation, freezer defrost coordination, supply inventory, and safe handling of CO, compressed gas tanks, and liquid nitrogen tanks and dewars.
• Supports shared equipment and facility operations that investigators rely on to meet grant timelines and maintain experimental integrity.

• Conducts tests across a wide array of assays using laboratory machinery and computer programs.
• Tests and sets up lab equipment.
• Collects data and prepares reports based upon established protocols.
• Attends and participates in departmental meetings.
• Orders, receives, and inventories laboratory supplies.
• Cleans glassware and maintains laboratory work areas.
• Troubleshoots breakdowns, performs preventive maintenance, and calls for repairs as needed.
• Maintains logs and equipment record books.

Combinations of related education and experience may be considered. Education beyond the minimum required may be substituted for work experience. Work experience beyond the minimum required may be substituted for education.

Required

• Bachelor's degree plus 2 years of experience in a laboratory setting; OR
• Associate's degree plus 4 years of experience in a laboratory setting

Required

• Proficient written and verbal communication skills.
• Maintains a high degree of professionalism.
• Demonstrates time management and priority setting skills.
• Demonstrates a high commitment to quality.
• Possesses flexibility to work in a fast paced, dynamic environment.
• Highly thorough and dependable.
• Possesses a high degree of initiative.
• Ability to build strong customer relationships.

The role regularly requires the ability to effectively communicate. The role frequently requires the ability to move about the work environment and to position oneself to operate laboratory equipment effectively. The role requires the ability to move objects weighing up to 25 pounds and will occasionally work near moving mechanical parts. The person in this role must be able to perform the essential functions with or without an accommodation.

• Comprehensive medical and dental insurance
• Health savings account with generous IU contributions
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• Basic group life insurance paid by IU
• Voluntary supplemental life, long-term disability, critical illness, and supplemental accidental death & dismemberment insurance
• Base retirement plan with generous IU contributions, subject to vesting
• Voluntary supplemental retirement plan options
• Tuition subsidy for employees and family members taking IU courses
• 10 paid holidays plus a paid winter break each year
• Generous paid time off plans
• Paid leave for new parents and IU-sponsored volunteer…