Research Assistant I

University of Florida•Gainesville, FL

5d•$17 - $23•Onsite

About The Position

This position is needed as a foundation for the established research program of Dr. Shannon Wallet, PhD in the Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry. In particular this position will serve as a research assistant and as such, under general supervision will perform a variety of scientific tasks and independently conduct a wide array of standard laboratory assays. Dr. Wallet’s research program has two major areas of investigation currently ongoing supported by extramural funding and/or intramural startup funds: immune dysfunction after burn and radiation injury and modulation of immune responses with biomedical engineering. This position will be required to perform some if not all of the following assays as needed: processing of human samples, (peripheral blood, saliva, and bronchial alveolar lavage), mouse handling, manipulation and tissue harvesting, immunological assays (e.g. Luminex), molecular biology assays (e.g. nanoString), protein assays (e.g. western blot), immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, and microscopy. This position will be expected to follow standard operating procedures (SOP) and associated environmental health and safety (EHS), human institutional review board (IRB) and institutional animal care use committee (IACUC) protocols and thus ensure compliance with federal regulations within the laboratory (e.g. DEA, NIH, EHS, IACUC, IRB). In addition, this position will contribute to the maintenance of a sample repository and experimental data databases under the supervision of a Laboratory Manager and Principal Investigator.

Requirements

A high school diploma and one year of experience working in a research or clinical laboratory.
Appropriate college course work or vocational/ technical training may substitute at an equivalent rate for the required experience.

Nice To Haves

Experience with laboratory techniques and regulatory entities listed.
Experience with animal handling.
Experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, Prism and PowerPoint

Responsibilities

Technical performance of assays as needed, including but not limited to immunological assays, molecular biology assays, protein assays, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, & microscopy 40%.
Experimentation with murine models of burn, smoke inhalation, and/or radiation injury including mouse handling, manipulation, tissue harvesting, and accurate record keeping of mouse colonies. 25%
Processing of human samples, (peripheral blood, saliva, bronchial alveolar lavage) and maintenance of a sample repository and experimental data databases using laboratory data management systems (LDMS), EPIC, and RedCap. 20%.
Under supervision of Laboratory Manager and/or the principal investigator ensure compliance with federal regulations within the laboratory (e.g. NIH, EHS, IACUC, IRB). 5%
Other duties as assigned by the Laboratory Manager, including maintenance of laboratory supplies stock, and instrument maintenance. 10%