Research Technician - Ruta Lab

Location: New York
Research Technician - Ruta Lab page is loaded## Research Technician - Ruta Lab locations:
Rockefeller University time type:
Full time posted on:
Posted Todayjob requisition :
R-3904

Primary Work Address: 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065##
*
* About the Role:

** The Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Behavior, led by
** Dr. Vanessa Ruta
** at The Rockefeller University in New York City, is seeking an ambitious and highly motivated
** Research Technician
** to join our team. The Ruta Lab applies a broad multidisciplinary approach to examine odor detection and perception in insects, from the molecular basis for odorant detection to the neural and behavioral algorithms underlying olfactory plume navigation.

One focus of the lab is to elucidate the structural basis of odorant signaling in insect olfactory receptors, using membrane protein biochemistry, single-particle cryo-EM, electrophysiology, and other functional assays to gain insight into how this large and highly divergent ion channel family can recognize the vast chemical world.

Ongoing work, funded by generous support from
** HHMI**,
** NIAID**, and the
** Gates Foundation**, is revealing broader principles of how odors are recognized, by determining the structures of receptors from different species bound by different odorants and exploring the underlying structural basis for their chemical tuning through rational interrogation of structure/function relationships at the molecular level. Unraveling the molecular basis for odorant recognition and signal transduction in insect odorant receptors (ORs) lays the groundwork for the rational design of novel classes of insect repellents to control human disease vectors, and to engineer synthetic diagnostic “noses” to detect human disease-associated volatile compounds.

This position is an excellent fit for a detail-oriented candidates eager to contribute to innovative structural studies of insect olfactory and chemosensory receptors in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment. It is ideal for individuals planning to spend two years gaining hands-on research experience prior to pursuing a PhD or graduate program, offering exceptional mentorship, training, and professional development in a world-class research setting.  

Research Technicians from the Ruta Lab have gone on to PhD, MD and MD-PhD programs at leading institutions.

More information about the lab can be found on the  and the .
** Application Instructions:
** Please include—preferably as a single PDF
* Cover letter describing your research interests and goals
* CV (including relevant technical skills)
* Names and contact information for at least two references
** What You’ll Get:**
* ** Rigorous Training
** in molecular biology, biochemistry, and structural biology techniques
* ** Close Mentorship
** from Dr. Ruta and senior lab members in a supportive and collaborative environment
* ** Professional Development**, including the ability to contribute conceptually as well as technically to project development, experience in diverse data analyses methods, presentation in lab meetings and at conferences and opportunities to contribute to publications and conference presentations
* ** Collaborative Environment
** with access to the rich scientific community of Rockefeller University and the broader Tri-Institutional campus
*
* What You Will Do:

** You will conduct structure–function studies of insect olfactory and chemosensory receptors using a variety of approaches, including:
* Molecular biology (mutagenesis, plasmid design, cloning)
* Membrane protein biochemistry (expression, purification, and analysis)
* Functional assays (cell-based Ca2+ imaging, cellular and
* in vivo
* electrophysiology,)
* Structural biology (single-particle cryo-EM, model building, molecular docking, and simulations)
* High-throughput screening (96-well plate readers, flow cytometry cell sorting and DNA sequencing)

Responsibilities include:

* Applying a broad range of techniques, including molecular cloning, tissue culture, baculovirus production, protein purification, size-exclusion chromatography, fluorescent assays, electrophysiology, cryo-EM, and computational modeling
* Designing, executing,…