Research Assistant III

Job Location

601 Elmwood Ave, Room 56715, Rochester, NY 14642, United States of America

• Employment Type: Part time, Regular
• Scheduled Weekly
  
  Hours:
  
  20
• Department: 400153 OBGYN Research
• Work Shift: UR - Day
• Compensation Range: $21.78 - $30.53

Under the supervision of Dr. Falsetta, the position is part‑time in a laboratory studying the vulvar pain condition known as localized provoked vulvodynia. There is also a clinical coordinating component (~25%) that involves working with clinical faculty and staff to identify patients eligible for the study, obtain patient consent, and pick up patient tissue specimens for laboratory analysis. Previous clinical coordinator experience is not required.

The position requires daily utilization of laboratory skills, including but not limited to cell line and primary cell culture, aseptic technique, microbiological culture, microscopy, nucleic acid isolation (RNA and DNA), standard and quantitative PCR, siRNA knockdown, protein over-expression, flow cytometry, genetic/cloning techniques, protein quantification, Western blot analysis, ELISAs, EIAs, Luminex, primary cell isolation and purification (from human and mouse tissues), the handling of mice, and procedures on mice (subcutaneous injection, anesthesia, treatment applications, pain testing, post‑mortem tissue collection, gavage, etc.).

The position requires a high level of independence with only occasional suggestions in modifying, varying, or adapting laboratory procedures to meet the special needs of the research. A qualified applicant will be adept at troubleshooting and adapting protocols and techniques as needed. The position requires the ability to be proactive and identify problems before or when they arise and be able to triage them.

Upon the completion of experiments, the data must be processed, interpreted, and organized in a brief written report with presentations to be made at lab meetings on a regular basis. Furthermore, the technician will assist with the preparation of charts, graphs, and tables for publications, presentations, and grant applications. There may be the requirement to write short sections of text covering methodology or review text pertaining to procedures performed by the technician.

Regularly scheduled progress meetings will be held with Dr. Falsetta. An understanding of the experiments and relevant up‑to‑date knowledge of the projects’ background is expected, which may include the need to perform literature searches and read primary research articles and reviews. Duties also include helping to maintain laboratory organization, chemical inventories, and protocols.

• 50% Bench/laboratory work: formulate experimental procedures and use laboratory techniques to process the experiments in the appropriate manner.
  • Calcium imaging assays: 25%
  • Immunological assays: EIA, ELISA, Luminex, Flow: 20%
  • Protein extract preparation and Western Blot analysis: 10%
  • Nucleic Acid Isolation and RT-PCR/PCR: 15%
  • Cell/Tissue Culture: 20%
  • In vivo mouse model: 10%
• 25% Clinical coordinating: recruiting patients for studies, maintaining records and regulatory documents
• 10% Data processing and figure formatting: after compiling data from experiments, the data must be analyzed. Then, it must be organized to publication quality and presented.
• 10% Administrative/laboratory organization: maintaining laboratory organization, writing/modifying laboratory protocols, and maintaining and safety protocols.
• 5% Reporting: regularly meeting with Dr. Falsetta to discuss the current state of the project. Attending and actively participating in laboratory meetings to present analyzed data.

• Bachelor’s degree in biological sciences, with an emphasis on microbiology, biochemistry, immunology, and/or molecular and cellular biology.
• Experience in the techniques outlined above and other technical or research experience is highly valuable.
• The successful applicant will possess great attention to detail, as well as knowledge of Excel and Word, and be proficient with routine laboratory calculations.

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