Undergraduate Research Assistant: Muscle Cell Culture at Oakland University

Oakland University; Rochester (MI); Hybrid; USD 17,000 - 22,000; Full time

Job summary

The Muscle Biology Lab at Oakland University invites applications from an undergraduate student to join our research team as an Undergraduate Research Assistant focusing on muscle cell culture for Fall 2026 / Winter 2027, with potential extension.

The role provides hands-on experience with muscle cell culture techniques, including maintaining cultures, differentiating into myotubes, and assisting with experiments under the supervision of the PI.

Qualifications

• Experience in a biology lab is preferred but not required; training will be provided.
• Minimum commitment of 10 hours per week.
• Reliable, responsible, and detail-oriented.
• Interest in cell biology, molecular biology, physiology, biomedical research, or muscle biology.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and culture muscle cells.
• Assist with muscle cell culture and differentiation into myotubes.
• Perform routine cell culture tasks, including media preparation, cell maintenance, passaging, and cryopreservation.
• Assist with experiments involving muscle cells and cellular responses to experimental treatments.
• Prepare buffers, media, reagents, and other materials for experiments.
• Maintain accurate and organized laboratory records.
• Follow laboratory protocols and maintain a clean and organized workspace.
• Assist graduate students and the PI with laboratory experiments.
• Learn and apply basic molecular and cellular biology techniques.

Skills

Cell culture

Molecular biology

Attention to detail

Education

Undergraduate student

Tools

Real-time PCR

Western blotting

Immunohistochemistry

Animal models

Cell culture

Job description

The Muscle Biology Lab at Oakland University is seeking a motivated undergraduate student to join our research team as an Undergraduate Research Assistant with a focus on muscle cell culture for Fall 2026 / Winter 2027, with the potential to extend further.

Our laboratory studies the biology of skeletal and cardiac muscle, including the molecular mechanisms that regulate muscle growth and muscle loss. We use a variety of molecular and cellular biology techniques, including real-time PCR, Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, animal models, and cell culture.

This position is particularly suited for a student interested in gaining hands‑on experience with cell culture research.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Maintain and culture muscle cells
• Assist with muscle cell culture and differentiation into myotubes
• Perform routine cell culture tasks, including media preparation, cell maintenance, passaging, and cryopreservation
• Assist with experiments involving muscle cells and cellular responses to experimental treatments
• Prepare buffers, media, reagents, and other materials for experiments
• Maintain accurate and organized laboratory records
• Follow laboratory protocols and maintain a clean and organized workspace
• Assist graduate students and the PI with laboratory experiments
• Learn and apply basic molecular and cellular biology techniques.

Preferred Qualifications and Requirements

• Prior lab experience or cell culture experience is a plus but not required; training will be provided
• Minimum commitment of 10 hours per week
• Reliable, responsible
• Interest in cell biology, molecular biology, physiology, biomedical research, or muscle biology
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow protocols carefully
• Abillty to work independently after appropriate training
• Flexibility in scheduling is required: cell culture experiments often require work at specific time points and cannot always be performed during standard business hours. Students should be willing and able to occasionally adjust their schedule, including working on weekends when necessary, to maintain cell cultures and complete experiments properly, given the nature of the work.