Research Assistant - Ophthalmology (Greiner Lab)

University of Iowa; Iowa City (IA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Iowa Health Care is seeking a Research Assistant to conduct morphological, molecular biological, and cell culture work in a multidisciplinary vision research lab. Responsibilities include maintaining human corneal endothelial cell cultures, designing and conducting assays, and reporting data.

Strong communication, organization, and multitasking skills are essential. Location is on campus in Iowa City; 100% effort (1-year specified-term) with potential continuation based on funding.

Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor's degree in related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Practical or academic knowledge of basic laboratory procedures and an ability to translate, adapt, and apply this knowledge.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including ability to compose concise, organized documents.
• Demonstrate careful attention to detail and accuracy, strong organizational skills and ability to handle multiple tasks quickly and effectively.

Responsibilities

• Prepare human specimens for morphological and molecular analyses, histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, and microscopy.
• Assist in designing experimental protocols for corneal research studies and perform existing protocols.
• Maintain cultures of human corneal endothelial and epithelial cells.
• Prepare images, graphs, and materials for reports, manuscripts, and presentations.
• Oversee maintenance of laboratory instruments and inventory of chemicals and reagents.
• Assist in acquiring ophthalmic tissue from human donors and surgical explants as needed.
• Enter data, generate graphs, and create PowerPoint slides on Macintosh and PC.
• Conduct literature searches, prepare bibliographies, and manage references.
• Write methods sections for manuscripts based on lab experiments.

Skills

Bachelor's degree essential

Excellent written and verbal comms

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Multitasking

Scientific writing

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Tools

Word

Excel

PowerPoint

ImageJ

PhotoShop

Job description

To conduct general morphological, molecular biological, and/or cell culture sections of a multidisciplinary vision research laboratory; assist in independently maintaining human corneal endothelial cell cultures; assist in the design and conduct experimental assays to measure cellular function of native and cultured corneal endothelial cells; set up, operate, and troubleshoot laboratory equipment; and record, consolidate and report research data; conduct various molecular assays as needed.

To conduct general morphological, molecular biological, and/or cell culture sections of a multidisciplinary vision research laboratory; assist in independently maintaining human corneal endothelial cell cultures; assist in the design and conduct experimental assays to measure cellular function of native and cultured corneal endothelial cells; set up, operate, and troubleshoot laboratory equipment; and record, consolidate and report research data; and to conduct various molecular assays on an as needed basis. University of Iowa Health Care—recognized as one of the best hospitals in the United States—is Iowa's only comprehensive academic medical center and a regional referral center. Each day more than 12,000 employees, students, and volunteers work together to provide safe, quality health care and excellent service for our patients. Simply stated, our mission is: Changing Medicine. Changing Lives.®

Percent of Time: 100% - This is a specified-term appointment with an initial duration of one year. Continuation beyond the one-year term is contingent upon an review of departmental needs and funding availability.

Location: UI Health Care, Iowa City

Pay Level: 3A - Professional and Scientific Pay Structures | University Human Resources - The University of Iowa

Position Responsibilities

• Prepare human specimens for morphological (tissue sectioning, immunohistochemistry, histochemistry), molecular biological (RNA and DNA isolation, Northern and Southern blot analyses, PCR, RT-PCR) biochemical (SDS-PAGE and Western immunoblotting), cell metabolism (MTT and extracellular flux analysis), and microscopy (confocal, brightfield, electron).
• Assist in the design of novel experimental protocols for corneal research studies. Assist in performing existing experimental protocols reported in the literature. Participate in and recommend amendments to current research protocols.
• Maintain cultures of human primary and immortalized/transformed corneal endothelial and epithelial cells.
• Prepare images, photographic plates, graphs, tables, and supplemental materials for reports, manuscripts, and presentations.
• oversee maintenance of laboratory instruments. Assist in maintaining inventory of chemicals and reagents and keeping the premises neat and orderly.
• Participate in acquisition of research ophthalmic tissue and preparation of tissue for research from human donors and surgical explants on an as needed basis.
• Enter data, graph, create PowerPoint slides, and interpret results on Macintosh and PC computers.
• Perform computer and library database searches on specified topics to further research; prepare bibliographies; retrieve and maintain references.
• Write methods for manuscripts based on experiments performed in the lab when needed.

Required Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor's degree in related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Practical or academic knowledge of basic laboratory procedures and an ability to translate, adapt, and apply this knowledge.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills required including ability to compose communications and grammatically correct documents in a concise, logical, and organized manner.
• Demonstrate careful attention to detail and accuracy, strong organizational skills and ability to handle multiple tasks quickly and effectively, proactively establish priorities and meet deadlines.

Desired Qualifications

• Master of Science or related field
• 2+ years of documentable basic and applied research experience with specific theoretical and applied knowledge of tissue culture procedures and techniques; specifically morphological (tissue sectioning, immunohistochemistry, histochemistry, and electron microscopy), genetic and molecular biological (RNA and DNA isolation, Northern and Southern blot analyses, PCR, RT-PCR), biochemical (SDS-PAGE and Western blotting), cell metabolism (MTT or equivalent) and cell culture analytic techniques.
• Working knowledge of computer programs and applications for the analysis of genetic date, statistical analysis programs, bioinformatics, genetic databases, and including the applications Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Image J and PhotoShop.
• Previous experience with confocal microscopy, flourescence, microscopy, image analysis, and post-image processing is highly desirable.
• Experience with writing of manuscripts for publication and grants for submission.
• Experience/knowledge with human ocular tissue is highly desirable.

Position And Application Details

Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. Up to 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process.

For additional questions, please contact Sam Noel, HR Associate, at [e-mail].

Additional Information

• Classification Title: Research Assistant
• Appointment Type: Professional and Scientific
• Schedule: Full-time
• Work Modality Options: On Campus

Compensation

• Pay Level: 3A

Contact Information

• Organization: Healthcare
• Contact Name: Sam Noel
• Contact Email: [e-mail]