Research Assistant

Job Summary And Responsibilities

We are seeking motivated, and curious recent college graduates (BS degree, Class of 2026 or earlier) to join Dr. Jha’s Acute Brain Injury Research Laboratory at the Barrow Neurological Institute. Dr. Jha is the Division Chief of Neurocritical Care, and her lab conducts cutting‑edge translational research focused on acute brain injury connecting discoveries at the bench directly to patient care. A central focus of this role is participation in the BRAIN Project (Barrow Research Repository of Acute Injury in Neurology and Neurosurgery), one of the few nationwide longitudinal biobanks studying diverse brain injuries such as traumatic brain injury, ischemic stroke, aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, and intracranial hemorrhage.

These patient‑derived samples are used to identify biomarkers and therapeutic targets with real clinical impact.

• Work closely with physicians, nurses, and research staff in a fast‑paced clinical research environment
• Consent and enroll patients and coordinate biospecimen collection
• Process biological samples and maintain detailed research records
• Conduct patient follow‑ups to assess outcomes over time
• Assist with data collection and analysis
• Depending on interest, gain exposure to wet‑lab and translational techniques including single‑cell sequencing, proteomics, preclinical models, data analyses

• Hands‑on experience at the intersection of clinical medicine and research
• Strong mentorship and training; no prior lab experience required
• Team members have had their work presented at national conferences, contributed to and led publications
• Excellent preparation for MD, MD‑PhD, and other research‑focused graduate programs
• Alumni from this lab have gone on to successful medical and physician‑scientist careers (MD, MD PhD programs)

• Organized, reliable, and detail‑oriented team players
• Compassionate communicators comfortable working with patients and families
• Eager learners who enjoy a dynamic, ever‑changing work environment
• Strong interpersonal, project management, and record‑keeping skills

Candidates should be able to start by (or before) August 2026 and commit for two years. While the role is fast‑paced and multifaceted, all specialized techniques are taught on the job with close mentoring. If you’re excited by meaningful research, teamwork, and learning in a high‑impact clinical environment,
we’d love to meet you
!

• High School Graduate and related college or certification coursework and previous experience in a health care setting, upon hire
• Bachelor’s Degree highly preferred
• Previous clinical research experience preferred

St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center is a 571‑bed, not‑for‑profit hospital located conveniently in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona. Founded in 1895 by the Sisters of Mercy, it was the first hospital in the Phoenix area. Over 125 years later, St. Joseph’s remains dedicated to its mission of caring for the poor and underserved. The hospital is nationally recognized for quality qua ternary care, medical education, and research.

It includes the internationally renowned Barrow Neurological Institute, Norton Thoracic Institute, Cancer Center eph’s, Ivy Brain Tumor Center, and St. Joseph’s Level I Trauma Center (verified by the American College of Surgeons). St. Joseph’s is a respected center for high‑risk obstetrics, neuro‑rehabilitation, orthopedics, and other medical services. It is considered a sought‑after destination hospital for treating the most complex cases from around the world.

Every day, approximately 20 % of the hospital’s patients travel from outside Arizona and the United States to seek treatment eph’s. U.S. News & World Report routinely ranks St. Joseph’s among the top hospitals in the United States for neurology and neurosurgery. St. Joseph’s boasts the Creighton University School of Medicine eph’s, and a strategic alliance with Phoenix Children’s Hospital. St. Joseph’s is consistently named an outstanding place to work and one of Arizona’s healthiest employers.

$19.01 - $24.24 /hour