Research Associate - Comprehensive Cancer Center

Wexner Medical Center; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 48,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Ohio State University is seeking a Research Associate to support the Preclinical Imaging Shared Resource. The role emphasizes strong small animal handling, welfare, and learning preclinical imaging workflows.

The candidate will assist with animal procedures, instrument-agnostic imaging basics, and meticulous data documentation within a collaborative, fast-paced research environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent with required experience.
• Experience with small animals, especially mice and rats, including handling, anesthesia support, injections, monitoring, and humane euthanasia.
• Hands-on animal procedures with emphasis on welfare and consistency.
• Willingness to learn imaging modalities and software through training.
• Ability to work collaboratively in fast-paced research.
• Strong recordkeeping and digital data/documentation.

Responsibilities

• Support the scientific, operational, and technical activities of the Preclinical Imaging Shared Resource.
• Assist in animal procedures and ensure animal welfare and compliance.
• Maintain accurate logs, study notes, and documentation.
• Collaborate with scientists, management, and animal care teams.

Skills

Small animal handling

Animal welfare

Data recording

Hands-on procedures

Team collaboration

Training & learning

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Associate's degree with 3 years 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

Thank you for your interest in working at Ohio State.

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

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