Senior Research Assistant

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Department Overview

Research assistant for basic science research study to assess changes in sympathetic nerves and the heart in various models of cardiac dysfunction. Work with a collaborative team to understand cellular and molecular mechanisms of sympathetic neural plasticity and the impact of nerves on cardiac cells and function. Maintain excellent laboratory records and a safe research environment.

Department Overview

Research assistant for basic science research study to assess changes in sympathetic nerves and the heart in various models of cardiac dysfunction. Work with a collaborative team to understand cellular and molecular mechanisms of sympathetic neural plasticity and the impact of nerves on cardiac cells and function. Maintain excellent laboratory records and a safe research environment.

Function/Duties of Position

Isolate and culture cardiac myocytes and sympathetic neurons: Learn and perform protocols to culture sympathetic neurons, cardiac myocytes, and co-cultures for proximity labeling studies. Introduce DNA encoding the APEX-tagged SAP-97 construct into cultured myocytes for the proximity labeling studies. Work with the proteomics core to identify hits from the labeling.

Analysis of immune response: Carry out survival surgery in mice including implantation of minipumps. Assess physiological parameters including ECG and blood pressure. Isolate immune cells from hearts exposed to AngII hypertension (with and without drugs to promote nerve regeneration) and quantify immune cells by flow cytometry.

General duties: Assist in keeping the laboratory in good working order, maintaining supplies, preparing solutions, and assisting other team members as needed. Assist with the mouse colony as needed. Take primary responsibility for ordering rats for neonatal culture experiments.

Documentation and data management: Maintain complete and accurate laboratory records of study procedures and results; back up data regularly, including images; assist with analysis of results.

Communication: Regularly report experiment progress to supervisor and other team members; participate in lab meetings; assist with presentation of study results in abstracts, papers, or presentations.

This position description may not include all duties of this position and additional duties may be added at the direction of Beth Habecker, Ph.D.

Compliance expectation: Perform all compliance and training requirements for research staff ry out job responsibilities in an ethical, effective, and professional manner. Model ethical and appropriate behavior, professional standards, compliance, and personal integrity. Understand and comply with the Code of Conduct, OHSU and departmental policies and procedures, applicable rules, regulations.



Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in science with major courses in field of research
• 1 to 3 years of research experience, including rodent survival surgeries and generation of sympathetic neuron and/or cardiac myocyte cultures, and experience with flow cytometry.
• Willingness to conduct hands on rodent research. Excellent hand-eye coordination and ability to do fine detail work.
• Experience with small animal surgery.
• Experience with primary cultures or acute dissociation of tissue for experiments.
• Strong computer skills (including Microsoft and Excel experience).
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Ability to prioritize work demands, make good judgements, and manage time appropriately.
• Willing to learn and perform new tasks.
• Demonstrated evidence of strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to meet deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and also work effectively as part of a team.

• Degree in Biology, Chemistry, Neuroscience, or related field.
• Experience with immunohistochemistry, nerve density analysis, iPSC cells, and measuring metabolic activity.
• Histology and cell culture.