Research Investigator - Neurosurgery - Research

Essential Job Functions
• Assists principal investigator with scientific research projects.
• Participates in organizational and scientific meetings as required.
• Designs, develops or adapts equipment used in experiments or research to obtain desired results. 
• Establish and maintain cell cultures using standard tissue culture techniques including: plating 
cells, freezing lines properly to assure cell viability, and maintenance of an organized cell and 
tissue repository.
Research Investigator
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• Determines specific goals or objectives, evaluates research data, develops, and revises 
techniques or approaches to work problems.
• Knowledge of the institution's safety requirements and procedures in general laboratory practice. 
Complies with departmental and institutional policies regarding biomedical and radiation safety 
educational requirements. Must follow instruction of laboratory procedures on safe handling and 
disposal of radioactive and biohazardous materials. Assist in the maintenance of records of 
radioisotopes purchased, handling, storage and disposal in accordance with UTMDACC and 
government regulations.
Key Job Functions
1: Molecular Biology/Biochemistry 
Isolation and purification of proteins, DNA, and RNA from tumor and normal tissue and cell 
cultures. Manipulation of DNA molecules using recombinant DNA techniques including: 
restriction digestion, subcloning, PCR, LOH, sequencing and bacterial transformation.
2: General Lab Organization/Maintenance
Will work with other members of the laboratory to see that the room is adequately stocked with 
plasticware and chemicals needed on a daily basis. Maintain sufficient supplies of media for 
mammalian or bacterial cell culture. Will see that lab is well organized and kept in an orderly 
manner.
3: Tissue Culture
Establish and maintain cell cultures using standard tissue culture techniques including: plating 
cells, freezing lines properly to assure cell viability, and maintenance of an organized cell and 
tissue repository.
4: Laboratory Safety Knowledge of the institution's safety requirements and procedures in
general laboratory practice. Complies with departmental and institutional policies regarding
biomedical and radiation safety educational requirements. Must follow instruction oflaboratory
procedures on safe handling and disposal of radioactive and biohazardous materials. Assist in
the maintenance of records of radioisotopes purchased, handling, storage and disposal in
accordance with UTMDACC and government regulations.
5: Record Keeping and Data Collection Must maintain detailed written reports of experimental
data and protocols. Must be able to discuss the goals of experiments, communicate results and
provide information on problems encountered during the experiments.
6: Animal Care and Maintenance Must undergo the required institutional animal training as
required by UTMDACC. Responsibilities will include maintaining the mouse colony. Animal
manipulations (including injections, and sacrifice for tissue harvest) are expected. Must be able
to collect data on the experimental results and provide them when requested.