Research Assistant - Neurology

The Orr Laboratory is seeking a highly motivated Research Assistant to support an active translational neuroscience research program focused on brain aging, Alzheimer's disease, tau biology, and cellular senescence. The successful candidate will provide technical and organizational support for laboratory operations while assisting with experiments involving cell culture, molecular biology, spatial biology, and animal studies. This position is ideal for an individual seeking hands‑on research experience in an academic laboratory.

• Conduct research studies, experiments and surveys.
• Prepare reagents, media, buffers, and laboratory solutions.
• Perform routine molecular biology techniques including PCR, Western blotting, immunostaining, and protein/RNA extraction.
• Assist with tissue processing, histology, immunohistochemistry, and microscopy.
• May assist with mammalian cell cultures, including neuronal and iPSC‑derived cell models.
• May assist with rodent colony maintenance, genotyping, tissue collection, and basic animal procedures, as appropriate.
• Organize biological samples and maintain laboratory inventories and databases.
• Evaluate research results, report findings, and discuss project outcomes with staff.
• Perform data entry and maintain data files on research.
• Prepare findings and draft interpretive reports/summaries for publications.
• Comply with established safety procedures and maintain required documentation on laboratory and specimen conditions.
• Coordinate research projects with other institutions and investigators.
• Participate in developing hypotheses to be tested and ways of testing them.
• Assist with general supply/equipment orders, lab maintenance and cleaning.
• Support multiple research projects across the laboratory as needed.

• Work in a laboratory environment with potential exposure to biological and chemical hazards.
• Must be physically able to wear protective equipment and provide standard care to research animals.

Required Qualifications
:
Bachelor’s degree or combination of education and/or experience may substitute for minimum education.

Certifications / Professional Licenses
:
No specific certification/professional license is required for this position.

Laboratory Operations: 2 Years

Document Research, Laboratory Processes, Scientific Research

Driver’s License
:
Not required.

Grade
: R07-H

Salary Range
: $17.10 - $29.09 / Hourly

• Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.
• Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.
• Take advantage of our free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.
• WashU provides eligible employees with a defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, which combines employee contributions and university contributions starting at 7%.

• Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more!

• We offer 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child. Family care resources are also available for your continued childcare needs. Need adult care? We’ve got you covered.
• WashU covers the cost of tuition for you and your family, including dependent undergraduate‑level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years with us.

For policies, detailed benefits, and eligibility, please visit: (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, citizenship (where prohibited by federal law), age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.