Lab Research Analyst I

Duke Careers•Durham, NC

1d•$52,477 - $79,504•Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Surgery is looking for a Lab Research Analyst I. This role supports preclinical research by conducting animal studies, laboratory assays, specimen processing, and laboratory operations. The position requires hands-on experience with animal models, tissue collection, biochemical assays, data management, and collaboration with research staff.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in botany, biology, zoology, psychology or other directly related scientific field.
Two years of research experience.
A related master's degree may offset required years of experience on a 1:1 basis, e.g., a two year master's degree in lieu of two years of experience.
OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

Nice To Haves

Experience with small animal handling (rodents and preferably swine).
Knowledge of tissue processing, protein analysis, and laboratory assays (ELISA, ELONA, coagulation assays, microscopy).
Strong documentation, organizational, and record-keeping skills.
Ability to work collaboratively in a research environment and train others.
Familiarity with laboratory safety, animal research compliance, and inventory management.

Responsibilities

Conduct animal studies, laboratory assays, specimen processing, and laboratory operations.
Support preclinical research.
Establish and maintain competency in handling and procedural skills for small animal models of traumatic injury (rodent and swine).
Maintain required training, certification, and employee occupational health and safety requirements to allow animal handling and procedures.
Interface with animal husbandry, veterinary, and other Department of Laboratory Animal Research (DLAR) staff to schedule and coordinate both care and experimentation with animals.
Establish and maintain competency in tissue acquisition and processing protocols for typical experimentation: Microscopy with fixation and embedding; snap-freezing with homogenization for protein analysis.
Assist with onboarding and training for other lab members working with animals and associated skills and assays.
Review and update laboratory protocols for fixing, freezing, and storing plasma and tissue specimens from animal experiments.
Perform assays with good record-keeping practices including data storage and archival in a shared digital laboratory notebook on plasma and tissue specimens: Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA); optimize and perform both kits and assays de novo depending on the availability of commercial kits for target antigens (i.e., to single coagulation Factor proteins).
Perform ELONA (Enzyme-linked Oligonucleotide Assay) with commercially available oligonucleotides using laboratory protocol.
Perform Clot-based hemostatic assays using a STAGO Start4 hemostasis analyzer for partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, and single coagulation Factor-deficient assays.
Utilize immunostaining for microscopy to localize coagulation enzymes in freshly fixed and frozen tissues from animal experiments at core microscopy facilities at Duke University.
Assist with onboarding and training of other lab members who will utilize these assays and associated skills.
Participate in bimonthly lab meetings (Fridays) by providing updates and feedback on the lab’s ongoing projects.
Participate in the lab’s usual rotation schedule for cleaning and resupplying equipment, reagents, and glassware (typically one week of responsibility every other month).
Assure digital laboratory notebook is up to date and compliant with laboratory standards.
Assist with data organization and preliminary analysis, including preparation of data sets and experimental summaries for investigators in laboratory meetings.
Monitor laboratory inventory and assist with ordering, organization, and management of laboratory supplies and reagents to ensure uninterrupted experimental operations.
Perform other related laboratory duties incidental to the work described above.