Research Associate I

University of Arkansas System•Little Rock, AR

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Research Associate provides support for research projects within the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. The Research Assistant will be punctual and honest, and perform general and more specific laboratory tasks, including: cleaning and sterilization of laboratory materials, general laboratory cleaning, preparation of cell culture media and chemical solutions using appropriate aseptic techniques, maintenance of lab equipment (including water baths, incubators, etc.), performance of basic molecular biology (in vitro cell culture, molecular cloning, virus production and titering, Western blots, etc.) and next generation sequencing techniques (custom library preparation), maintenance of chemical inventories, inventory of reagents, and data entry. Specifically, this position requires 100% effort towards research projects.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in biomedical sciences plus four (4) years of research experience required.
Candidate must be willing to work with, handle, and perform experiments involving viruses and mammalian cell culture.
Ability to keep organized records and notes is required.
Candidate should be proficient in Microsoft Word, Powerpoint and Excel.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience working with cell culture and DNA cloning is a plus.
Candidate should have a basic knowledge of the equipment used in a research laboratory and be capable of formulating and making stocks of media and other chemical reagents.
Prior experience in sterile culturing techniques is preferable.

Responsibilities

Prepare, purify, and maintain laboratory stocks of viruses, cell lines, and plasmid DNA to support ongoing research activities.
Manage laboratory inventory by ordering supplies, obtaining quotes, tracking orders, receiving materials, and maintaining accurate records of reagents and supplies.
Ensure compliance with University, State, and Federal regulations governing the safe operation of the laboratory.
Perform and support research experiments, including DNA cloning, next-generation sequencing library preparation, and genetic manipulation of cell lines.
Generate and maintain data that directly contributes to ongoing research initiatives and scientific investigations.
Train and mentor new laboratory personnel on laboratory techniques, procedures, and best practices as needed.
Clean, sterilize, and maintain laboratory materials, equipment, and workspaces, including incubators, tissue culture hoods, microscopes, liquid nitrogen tanks, and other research equipment.
Perform other duties as assigned.