Research Assistant II

Research Assistant II

US-OR-Portland

Requisition :

Position Category: Research

Job Type: Research

Position Type: Regular Full-Time

Posting Department: Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine

Posting Salary Range: $18.91 - $28.37 per hour with offer based on experience, education and internal equity

Posting FTE: 1.00

Posting

Schedule:

Monday - Friday, flexible

Posting

Hours:

9am - 5pm or 10am - 6pm

HR Mission: School of Medicine

Drug Testable: No

The Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine is integral to the healthcare, education and research missions  provide clinical services at OHSU hospitals and collaborate with the Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System (VA), Hillsboro Medical Center and Adventist Health. We specialize in providing excellent perioperative care and anesthesia services to our patients using state-of-the-art technology and pharmacologic tools with an emphasis on patient safety.

Our department's research program is robust. We have an active clinical research division. It covers a wide range of areas with a special focus on patient safety and pain management. Our basic science division has labs at both OHSU and the VA. Attending physicians, fellows, residents, and medical students work collaboratively with Ph.D. scientists in our labs to advance human health.

This division is focused on neuroscience and renal physiology.

A full time Research Assistant II position is available in the OHSU Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine. This position will entail the performance of basic and translational research focusing on the mechanisms controlling neuronal circuit function in both healthy and diseased brains in a dynamic neuroscience laboratory environment. The successful candidate for this position will participate in high impact research at the intersection of experimental neuroscience, neurophysiology and clinical translation.

Our laboratory studies the mammalian brains, both from a molecular/cellular perspective, as well as at the level of neuronal microcircuit function. Currently ongoing projects within the lab utilize genetic and viral approaches to label adult-born neurons and to manipulate their gene expression and activity, with the goal of understanding their functional properties at the synaptic and circuit level. Other experiments explore how these new cells wire into circuits in the context of various neurologic diseases, such as epilepsy and traumatic brain injury, with the intention of using this knowledge to eventually improve human health.

Experimental techniques utilize molecular biology, single cell electrophysiology from neurons in brain slices, translational brain injury and epilepsy modeling, immunohistochemistry, and confocal imaging approaches.

This position involves technical, experimental, and administrative components. Approximately 20 hours per week will be spent in support of several different projects within the lab, and include molecular biology/subcloning, cell culture, mouse colony maintenance and genotyping, immunohistochemical sample preparation and processing, and confocal microscopy. The remainder of the position will involve the performance of collaborative research, including translational brain injury modeling and analysis of neuronal circuit structure and plasticity.

The optimal candidate would be interested and willing to contribute to going projects, and eventually develop and sustain an independent project in collaboration with their mentor (Dr Schnell) and other lab members.

It is assumed that all candidates will have had substantial biology exposure as undergraduates, interest in neurobiological research, and be interested in independent research. Undergraduate laboratory experience is preferred, but specific knowledge of individual techniques is not required, as they will be taught to the individual by laboratory members. A high level of engagement in this work is essential, as are strong record-keeping, organizational skills, and attention to detail.

Ability/willingness to make a two year commitment is strongly preferred.

• Hands‑on technical work, including mouse handling, genotyping, molecular biology, immunohistochemistry, and imaging
• Data acquisition, preparation and presentation
• Participate in academic development, hypothesis generation, experimental planning, data interpretation
• Record keeping, lab supply ordering, lab management
• Other laboratory and administrative duties as requested

• Bachelors in relevant field OR
• Associate's AND 3 years of relevant experience OR
• 4 years of relevant experience OR
• Equivalent combination of training and experience

• Biology, Neuroscience, or related degree
• Involvement with primary/original research projects
• Familiarity with neuroscience, cell biology, and molecular biology

Work schedule is flexible, but ideally weekdays 9am - 5pm or 10am - 6pm. Willingness to work with mice in a laboratory…