Research Professional 3-Preclinical Research

Research Professional 3-Preclinical Research

About the Job

This research position is within the Translational Center for Resuscitative Trauma Care, in the vascular biology laboratory of Dr. Eric Wise. Our mission is to develop and evaluate innovative, effective acute trauma care from point of injury through early post-injury in austere, low resource, rural, and emergency care settings. We also work in understanding the physiology and mechanisms of sepsis in the vasculature.

This role is highly hand‑on and involves coordinating complex large‑animal surgical experiments, managing tissues in real time, and balancing wet lab assays with post experimental data analysis. Create a multidisciplinary, translational research center that brings together trauma and emergency care research across the state of Minnesota and develops faculty and trainee research careers.

This position supports pre‑clinical research within the Center, funded by the Department of Defense. Successful candidates must be able to independently execute multi‑step experimental protocols, anticipate challenges, and troubleshoot in real time with minimal supervision.

Responsibilities:

Experimental Research (70%)

The research program employs an integrated, translational experimental approach utilizing large animal (porcine) models, rodent models, and cell culture systems, combined with muscle bath, genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic technologies to answer lab‑specific questions related to vascular biology, trauma physiology, and sepsis mechanisms.

• Extensive involvement in large animal (porcine) surgical procedures in an operating room setting, including long, time‑sensitive experimental days
• Manage large animal procedures, including perioperative support, drug administration, and coordination with surgical teams in compliance with IACUC protocols
• Collect and analyze tissue, blood, and organ samples for downstream molecular and functional analysis
• Conduct rodent surgical procedures and experimental protocols
• Manage small animal (rodent) procedures, including perioperative care and drug administration in compliance with IACUC protocols
• Collect and analyze pre‑clinical data from rodent models to validate and complement large animal findings

Vascular Reactivity and Muscle Bath Systems

• Maintain and utilize muscle/organ bath systems for vascular reactivity studies across human samples large animal, rodent, and isolated vessel preparations Cell Culture, and Molecular Analysis
• Perform cell culture and molecular and tissue analysis to assess vascular and inflammatory responses, including proteomic analysis, genomic analysis, imunohistochemistry (IHC) and Metabolomic sample preparation
• Conduct experiments using animal and human samples and associated data.

Collaboration, Model Development, and Mentorship

• Collaborate with the Experimental Surgery teams
• Troubleshoot technical and experimental issues in real time
• Evaluate and optimize new and developing experimental models.
• Able to work in team setup as well as Independently.
• Train and mentor graduate and medical students, ensuring adherence to protocols and safety standards

Data Analysis and Management (25%)

• Perform data entry; manage and maintain detailed records of experiments and procedures
• Perform basic statistical analysis of data using available software
• Generate and disseminate experiment reports to research teams and collaborators
• Manage sample repository, ensuring proper labeling, storage, and tracking of biological specimens and lab data
• Works under general supervision with ongoing R&D operations as time allows
• Other duties as required
  • Potential visits to animal lab at USUHS (Washington, DC) and/ or Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN) for training and collaborative studies
  • Participate and Present in Seminars and Nationally Renowned Conferences

Qualifications

All required qualifications must be included in the application materials.

• BA/BS degree plus at least four years of relevant experience, or a combination of education and relevant work experience to equal at least eight years
• Previous experience in a research setting
• Must be able to stand at a laboratory bench and Operation Room for extended periods of time and…