Research Support Assistant II
About The Position
The Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene is seeking a qualified candidate to fill a full-time Research Support Assistant II position. This role will provide research support for several projects investigating the cellular and circuit-based mechanisms of the behavioral effects of serotonergic drugs using mice. The candidate will help run behavioral assays on mice before and after various manipulations, including acute and chronic pharmacology, genetic modification (germline or induced via viral vectors), stress exposure, optogenetics, and chemogenetics. The candidate will also perform measurements of these manipulations, including in vivo fiber photometry with genetically encoded biosensors and ex-vivo histological markers of brain activity and neurochemical changes. The qualified candidate will work closely with other scientists, including undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral research scientists, and faculty members. The candidate must be highly organized, detail-focused, and an excellent record keeper. They will be expected to organize their own daily schedule based on tasks assigned and be capable of clearly communicating the results of their activities one-on-one with supervisors and in a group setting.
Requirements
- BS/BA or equivalent degree in neuroscience, biology, biochemistry, chemistry, or related field
- At least (1) year experience handling laboratory mice including breeding, weaning, biopsies for genotyping.
- At least (1) year experience in conducting rodent behavioral tests.
- At least (1) year of experience with genotyping (tail or ear biopsy, DNA extraction, PCR, and gel electrophoresis).
- At least (1) year experience working with mouse brain tissue including perfusions, sectioning, immunohistochemistry, and fluorescence microscopy.
- At least (2) years' experience with Proficiency with Microsoft and Google productivity suites.
Nice To Haves
- Proficiency with common programming languages MATLAB, Python and/or MedPC.
- Proficiency with at least one statistical software package.
Responsibilities
- Manage the laboratory animal colony (several strains of transgenic mice), including breeding, weaning, genotyping, drug administration, post-surgical care, and maintenance of accurate colony records.
- Conduct behavioral testing in rodents, including automated operant and classical conditioning with appetitive and aversive reinforcement.
- Support the projects of senior lab members, assisting with experiments including stereotaxic surgery, viral vector delivery, fiber photometry, tissue processing, and immunohistochemistry.
- Train undergraduate researchers in basic lab skills.
- Keep detailed records and discuss progress of work regularly with project supervisors and Principal Investigator.
Benefits
- Excellent Benefits Package
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
