Research Assistant- IL- Physiology

Midwestern-University; Downers Grove (IL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

403(b) retirement plan

Tuition reimbursement

Wellness facility on-site

Job summary

Midwestern University in Downers Grove, IL seeks a motivated Research Assistant to support faculty in Physiology. The role involves designing and executing animal, cellular, and human-based research projects, data collection and analysis, and preparing figures for manuscripts.

Experience with laboratory mice is preferred. The position reports to the Chair of the Department and requires flexibility for late hours and occasional weekends.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in biological sciences or related field required.
• Experience with fluorescence microscopy and molecular biology techniques (western blot, PCR, etc.) preferred.
• Willingness to work late hours, weekends, and overtime as needed.
• Experience training students is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Maintain transgenic mouse colonies under supervision: breeding, ear tagging, injections, genotyping, record keeping.
• Culture maintenance: sterile cell culture and organoid work, harvesting, splitting, freezing cells, drug delivery, extractions.
• Perform molecular biology techniques (western blot, gels, RT-PCR, qPCR, ChIP, IHC, cloning) under supervision.
• Use software to collect and analyze physiological and cognitive data from humans.
• Graph, analyze, and present data; contribute to abstracts and posters.
• Maintain lab notebook; assist with troubleshooting; literature searches for protocols.
• Keep lab clean and organized; manage lab supplies and inventory.

Skills

Lab mice handling

Cell culture

Molecular biology

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in biological sciences

Tools

MS Office

Data acquisition systems

Job description

Description

Summary:

The Department of Physiology at Midwestern University, Downers Grove is looking for a motivated, enthusiastic, and scientifically curious Research Assistant to provide research support for faculty members in the Department of Physiology. The Research Assistant is expected to assist in the: design and execution of animal, cellular, and human based research projects; data collection and analysis; and preparation of figures for manuscripts for peer-reviewed publications. The candidate should have experience working with laboratory mice. This position will report to the Chair of the Department.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Maintain transgenic mouse colonies under faculty supervision: Mice breeding, handling, ear tagging, drug delivery via intraperitoneal, intramuscular, or subcutaneous injections, genotyping (obtain tail snips and perform PCR analyses), and accurate maintenance of colony records.
• Cell culture maintenance under faculty supervision: Generation, propagation and maintenance of sterile cell cultures and intestinal organoids, performing basic in vitro experiments, including but not limited to harvesting, splitting, and freezing cells, drug delivery to cultures, protein, and RNA extractions.
• Competently perform standard molecular biology techniques (western blot, gel electrophoresis, RT-PCR, qPCR, chromatin immunoprecipitations, immunohistochemistry, molecular cloning, etc.) under faculty supervision.
• Use specialized computer software to collect and analyze physiological (cardio-pulmonary) and cognitive data from humans under faculty supervision.
• Graph, analyze, and evaluate generated data, and contribute to abstract submissions and poster preparation.
• Maintain an accurate lab notebook and assist with trouble-shooting technical issues.
• Assist in literature searches for protocol development and optimization.
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of lab, lab equipment, and supplies.
• Adhere to laboratory safety and regulatory procedures and maintain lab chemical inventory.
• Obtain quotes and perform ordering and receiving duties for lab supplies.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.Must be able to work in a constant state of alertness and safe manner and have regular, predictable, in-person attendance. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Education and/or Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in biological sciences related field from an accredited college is required. Previous laboratory skills including experience with fluorescence microscopy, and molecular biology techniques including western blot, PCR, and cell and tissue culture maintenance are all desired preferred. Previous experience training students is desired.

This individual must have flexible schedule and be willing to occasionally work late hours, weekends, and potentially overtime. Must be willing to work with animal and human cell lines.

Computer Skills:

Computer proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) required. Experience with statistics, graphing and imaging software is preferred. Experience using data acquisition systems/equipment, as well as data processing, is desired. Computer programming skills are desired.

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This individual is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, talk and hear. This individual is occasionally required to climb or balance, stoop, kneel or crouch. This individual is frequently required to lift up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift up to 25 pounds. Close and distance vision correctable to 20/20 in both eyes, ability to distinguish depth and shades of grey scale.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Individuals will occasionally work near moving mechanical parts, be exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electric shock, radiation, and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Midwestern University is a private, not-for-profit organization that provides graduate and post-graduate education in the health sciences. The University has two campuses, one in Downers Grove, Illinois and the other in Glendale, Arizona. More than 6,000 full-time students are enrolled in graduate programs in osteopathic medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physician assistant studies, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nurse anesthesia, cardiovascular perfusion, podiatry, optometry, clinical psychology, speech language pathology, biomedical sciences and veterinary medicine. Over 500 full-time faculty members and 400 staff members are dedicated to the education and development of our students in an environment that encourages learning, respect for all members of the health care team, service, interdisciplinary scholarly activity, and personal growth.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance plans as well as life insurance, short/long term disability and pet insurance. We offer flexible spending accounts including healthcare reimbursement and child/dependent care account. We offer a work life balance with competitive time off package including paid holiday’s, sick/flex days, personal days and vacation days. We offer a 403(b) retirement plan, tuition reimbursement, child care subsidy reimbursement program, identity theft protection and an employee assistance program. Wellness is important to us and we offer a wellness facility on-site with a fully equipped fitness facility.

Midwestern University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer that does not discriminate against an employee or applicant based upon race; color; religion; creed; national origin or ancestry; ethnicity; sex (including pregnancy); gender (including gender expressions, gender identity; and sexual orientation); marital status; age; disability; citizenship; past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services; genetic information; or any other protected class, in accord with all federal, state and local laws and regulations. Midwestern University complies with the Smoke-Free Arizona Act (A.R.S. 36-601.01) and the Smoke Free Illinois Act (410 ILCS 82/). Midwestern University complies with the Illinois Equal Pay Act of 2003 and Arizona Equal Pay Acts.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.