UNIV - Research Specialist I - Department of Neurosciences
About The Position
The C. Schmidt lab in the Medical University of South Carolina’s Department of Neurosciences is seeking a motivated, detail-oriented research specialist for its new lab at the Darby Children’s Research Institute and Hollings Cancer Center. The lab studies the developmental origins of pediatric brain cancers and the early development of the brain using basic and translational research approaches. This role supports laboratory operations and experiments and offers training in research techniques and the process of establishing a new lab. The position is suited to someone interested in neuroscience or cancer biology and potentially pursuing an advanced degree in biological sciences or medicine. Training will be provided in all aspects of the work. The position may start as early as November 2025.
Requirements
- High school diploma and two years of work experience in a clinical or research setting; a bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, or another natural, life, or health care science may substitute for the two years of experience.
- Knowledge of and/or experience with basic cell and molecular biology protocols.
- Ability to learn advanced wet-lab techniques, including genetic editing, flow cytometry, cryosectioning, and sequencing library preparation.
- Strong organizational, multitasking, and communication skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a research team.
- Ability to work rotating shifts and overtime as required.
- Ability to learn and use new processes, tools, and equipment as required.
Nice To Haves
- Experience culturing mammalian cells, human pluripotent stem cells, embryonic stem cells, or organoids.
- Experience with molecular biology and biochemistry techniques, such as molecular cloning, qRT-PCR, shRNA/siRNA gene knockdown, immunoblotting, or immunofluorescence imaging.
- Previous experience working with mice.
- Genome-editing experience, such as CRISPR/Cas9.
Responsibilities
- Maintain and use stem cell lines and primary cell cultures, including human induced-pluripotent stem cells, neural stem cell cultures, human tumor cell lines, HEK 293T fibroblast cultures, and brain organoid cultures.
- Conduct tissue culture experiments such as proliferation or cell-death assays, drug treatments, transfections, lentivirus production, and viral transductions involving BSL2 work.
- Maintain cleanliness and inventory in the tissue culture room, manage reagent stocks and aliquots, and oversee equipment maintenance.
- Perform wet-lab procedures, including molecular cloning and CRISPR/Cas9 targeting constructs, RNA and protein isolation, qRT-PCR, western blotting, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry staining and microscopy, cryosectioning, flow cytometry, plasmid and bacterial handling, and reagent preparation.
- Analyze data for scientific reports.
- Maintain laboratory supplies and consumables; clean the laboratory and tissue-culture areas; clean and autoclave glassware and plastics; and ensure safety and compliance guidelines are followed.
- Help introduce new lab members to the laboratory and its work, and assist the principal investigator with establishing an efficient lab and fostering science and training.
- Conduct mouse husbandry and surgical procedures, including intracranial injections of neural stem cells and tumor cells for tumor-growth studies and therapeutic interventions.
- Perform bioluminescence imaging, administer therapeutic treatments to mice, and dissect tumors and other tissue.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
