Research Associate - Comprehensive Cancer Center

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is seeking a Research Associate to support the Preclinical Imaging Shared Resource. The role emphasizes strong small animal handling, experimental support, and training in imaging workflows to advance preclinical studies.

Ideal candidates will have hands-on experience with mice and rats, animal care coordination, and meticulous recordkeeping, while learning platform-specific imaging techniques and software through structured training.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience required; 3 years of relevant experience with Associate's Degree, or 1 year with Bachelor's Degree.
• Strong, demonstrated experience with small animals, especially mice and rats, including handling, restraint, injections, monitoring, recovery, and humane euthanasia.
• Ability and willingness to learn instrument-specific imaging modalities, workflows, and software through training.
• Ability to work collaboratively with scientists, management, animal care teams, and trainees in a fast-paced research environment.
• Strong recordkeeping skills and ability to maintain accurate digital data, logs, and study notes.

Responsibilities

• Support scientific, operational, and technical activities of the Preclinical Imaging Shared Resource.
• Learn and apply instrument-specific imaging modalities and acquisition/workflow techniques.
• Maintain accurate procedural logs and study notes with attention to animal welfare.

Skills

Small animal handling

Anesthesia support

Injections (IV/IP/SC)

Physiological monitoring

Animal welfare

Data & recordkeeping

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Summary

The Research Associate supports the scientific, operational, and technical activities of the Preclinical Imaging Shared Resource. Preferred candidates will bring strong small animal handling experience as the core competency for success in this role. Preclinical imaging instrumentation, platform-specific acquisition techniques, and analysis workflows can be taught; technical animal skill, procedural judgment, consistency, and respect for animal welfare are the most important starting capabilities. Instrument-specific imaging modalities, software workflows, and platform-specific techniques can be taught through structured training; therefore, the ideal candidate brings strong small animal technical capability and the ability to learn preclinical imaging instrumentation over time.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience required; 3 years of relevant experience required with Associate's Degree, or 1 years of relevant experience required with Bachelor's Degree.
• Strong, demonstrated experience with small animals, especially mice and rats, including handling, restraint, manipulation, anesthesia support, i.v./i.p./s.c. injections, physiological monitoring, recovery, and humane euthanasia.
• Highly confident and comfortable performing hands-on animal procedures with attention to animal welfare, procedural consistency, and investigator needs.
• Ability and willingness to learn instrument-specific imaging modalities, image acquisition workflows, irradiation workflows, and applicable software through training and supervised competency development.
• Ability to work collaboratively and respectfully with scientists, management, animal care teams, and trainees in a fast-paced research environment.
• Strong recordkeeping skills and ability to maintain accurate digital data, procedural logs, study notes, and documentation.

Career Roadmap

FUNCTION: Research

SUB-FUNCTION: Research

CAREER BAND: Individual Contributor - Specialized

CAREER LEVEL: S1

The university is an equal opportunity employer, including veterans and disability.

Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check. A drug screen or physical may be required during the post offer process.