Senior Research Assistant Hematopoietic Biology & Malignancy

The primary purpose of the Senior Research Assistant position is to provide supervision, special training to technical personnel and/or highly technical work in medical and related research projects. The Senior Research Assistant position is to conduct experiments and carry out research projects in varied areas of molecular and cell biology as well as in vivo studies to investigate the role of tRNA deregulation in normal blood development and leukemic transformation. Working with mice is a must. The lab focus is to study tRNA expression and epitranscriptomic regulation of gene expression in normal and malignant hematopoiesis. We had recently identified altered tRNA biogenesis as an indicator of tumor specific amino acid demand for protein synthesis in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-04244-1). The candidate will also be responsible for ordering chemicals and reagents for the lab, lab organization and day to day functioning of the laboratory.

The ideal candidate has extensive hands‑on experience conducting in vivo mouse research, including tumor cell injections, drug administration by IP, IV, and oral gavage, and comprehensive rodent colony management. They are proficient in breeding, genotyping, tissue collection, and monitoring animal health in full compliance with regulatory and safety guidelines, and are capable of independently supporting complex in vivo studies while training and supervising other laboratory members in animal techniques.

What We Offer?
* Employer-paid medical coverage starting day one for employees working 30+ hours/week, plus optional group dental, vision, life, AD&D, and disability insurance.
* Accruals for PTO and Extended Illness Bank, plus paid holidays, wellness, childcare, and other leave options.
* Tuition Assistance Program after six months of service and access to extensive wellness, fitness, and employee resource groups.
* Defined-benefit pension through the Teachers Retirement System, voluntary retirement plans, and employer-paid life and reduced salary protection programs.

JOB SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES:

Animal work and maintenance:
Will carry out experiments involving animals, and animal or human tissues, in accord with appropriate institutional and regulatory guidelines. Will inject tumor cells into mice, and administer drug to animals by ip injection, iv injection, or oral gavage. Will have knowledge of safety concerns when working with animal/human tissues. Manage rodent breeding colonies including mating breeders, checking pregnancy, recording litters, monitoring pups development, identifying pups for genotyping, and weaning. Collect tissues for hematology and genotyping assays. Support in vivo experiments per project protocols. Report animal status and issues. Is able to train new members of the laboratory in animal techniques. Responsible for maintaining laboratory animals and maintaining up-to-date animal inventory.

Molecular Biology techniques:
Assist in standard laboratory techniques (maintaining mammalian cells, growth assays, drug response assays, transfection and viral infection), nucleic acid extraction, PCR analyses, immunoblotting, CRISPR screens and NGS library preparation.

Laboratory Organization and Maintenance:
Orders and organizes supplies for the laboratory. Maintains lab work area and lab equipment, monitoring it daily to ensure the lab operates safely, is clean, and all equipment is in good working order; understands correct operation of all lab equipment, and follows written instructions/operations manual Prepares sterile media and solutions. Ability to work with little direct oversight. Attention to detail and excellent organizational skills.

Other duties as assigned.