Research Associate - Tucker Lab

The University of Iowa; Iowa City (IA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Iowa Health Care Department of Visual Sciences seeks a 100% Research Associate to join a multidisciplinary lab focused on cellular and gene replacement therapies for inherited retinal disease. The role oversees day-to-day lab activities and manufactures AAV and lentiviruses for research use.

You will maintain human iPS cell lines, differentiate retinal cells, manage inventory, and support routine lab tasks.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 3+ years of academic research experience.
• Ability to perform aseptic cell culture with human iPSCs and retinal cells.
• Experience with molecular biology and biochemical techniques (nucleic acid/protein isolation, PCR/qPCR, Western blot).
• Demonstrated ability to manage laboratory equipment and inventory.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Manufacture AAV and lentiviruses for lab use following SOPs.
• Maintain and differentiate human iPS cells and retinal cells.
• Manage laboratory inventory and equipment maintenance requests.
• Perform day-to-day lab tasks and maintain records.
• Coordinate repairs and manage cold storage and supplies.

Skills

Communication skills

Organization

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

PCR/qPCR

Western blot

Job description

The University of Iowa Health Care Department of Visual Sciences is seeking a 100% Research Associate (PRK2, 4A). This position will serve as a member of a multidisciplinary laboratory focused on developing cellular and gene replacement therapies to treat patients with inherited retinal disease. To oversee the day-to-day maintenance activities of the Tucker Laboratory and manufacture AAV and lentiviruses for lab use.

Position Responsibilities

Manufacture AAV and lentiviruses for use in the lab. This includes following SOPs for cloning, plasmid preparation, and transfection and purification of viral products, performing release testing, and maintaining a log/inventory of vectors produced.

Maintain and differentiate human iPS cell lines for studying disease progression. This will include performing cell culture under aseptic technique, and following standardized protocols for iPSC maintenance, and retinal cell and RPE differentiation

Responsible for laboratory inventory. Includes electronic inventory management system (eLab), consumables ordering requests, and equipment repair and maintenance requests.

Perform day-to-day lab tasks. This includes thawing, cleaning, and organizing cold storage units, scheduling repair/maintenance visits, cleaning and autoclaving lab dishes, aliquoting and inventorying antibodies, stocking supplies, store runs, etc.

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%

Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00a-5:00p

On Campus: This position is performed fully on campus.

Rotations: N/A

Position Type: Specified Term. Initial appointment is for one year. Appointment may be extended based on performance and availability of funding.

Required Qualifications

Requires the practical or academic knowledge of advanced laboratory procedures and an ability to translate, adapt and apply this knowledge that is generally associated with a Bachelor’s degree and 3+ years of experience working in an academic research environment.

Requires ability perform aseptic cell culture technique to maintain human iPSC and iPSC-derived retinal cell and RPE cultures.

Ability to carry out standard molecular biology and biochemical techniques (e.g., nucleic acid and protein isolation from human and animal tissue samples, PCR/qPCR, and Western blot), common cell biology techniques (e.g., immunocytochemistry/immunohistochemistry), and tissue culture techniques (i.e., establishing and maintaining human iPSCs).

Demonstrated ability at managing laboratory equipment and inventory.

Must maintain detailed laboratory notes and be highly organized.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required.

Desired Qualifications

Experience with maintaining human iPSCs and differentiating retinal cells with xeno-free protocols.

Ability to generate viral transgene expression plasmids, read Sanger sequencing and use DNA analysis software.

Prior experience producing and purifying AAVs and/or lentiviruses preferred.

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.

This position is not eligible for university sponsorship for employment authorization.

For additional questions, please contactMaria Lugo, HR Generalist, at [e-mail]

Additional Information

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

Contact Information

Equal opportunity employer

The University of Iowa is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, or associational preferences.

Persons with disabilities who need assistance or accommodations with the application or interview process may contact University Human Resources/Faculty and Staff Disability Services, [phone] or [e-mail] . For jobs in UI Health care, please contact UI Health care Leave & Disability Administration at 319-356-7543 .

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