Research Technician - Ruta Lab

Howard Hughes Medical Institute • New York, NY

87d • $19 - $31

About The Position

The Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Behavior, led by Dr. Vanessa Ruta at The Rockefeller University in New York City, is seeking an ambitious and highly motivated Research Technician to join our team. The Ruta Lab applies a broad multidisciplinary approach to examine odor detection and perception in insects, from the molecular basis for odorant detection to the neural and behavioral algorithms underlying olfactory plume navigation. One focus of the lab is to elucidate the structural basis of odorant signaling in insect olfactory receptors, using membrane protein biochemistry, single-particle cryo-EM, electrophysiology, and other functional assays to gain insight into how this large and highly divergent ion channel family can recognize the vast chemical world. Ongoing work, funded by generous support from HHMI, NIAID, and the Gates Foundation, is revealing broader principles of how odors are recognized, by determining the structures of receptors from different species bound by different odorants and exploring the underlying structural basis for their chemical tuning through rational interrogation of structure/function relationships at the molecular level. Unraveling the molecular basis for odorant recognition and signal transduction in insect odorant receptors (ORs) lays the groundwork for the rational design of novel classes of insect repellents to control human disease vectors, and to engineer synthetic diagnostic “noses” to detect human disease-associated volatile compounds. This position is an excellent fit for a detail-oriented candidates eager to contribute to innovative structural studies of insect olfactory and chemosensory receptors in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment. It is ideal for individuals planning to spend two years gaining hands-on research experience prior to pursuing a PhD or graduate program, offering exceptional mentorship, training, and professional development in a world-class research setting. Research Technicians from the Ruta Lab have gone on to PhD, MD and MD-PhD programs at leading institutions.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in biochemistry, structural biology, or a related field.
• Experience with molecular biology techniques (e.g. PCR, cloning).
• Familiarity with tissue culture and cell transfection.
• Background in protein biochemistry and/or cryo-EM is a plus.
• Strong organizational, communication, and time-management skills.
• A proactive, problem-solving mindset and eagerness to learn.
• Ideal commitment to at least 2 years of full-time research before pursuing the next career step.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in high-throughput screening techniques.
• Familiarity with cell-based Ca2+ imaging and cellular and in vivo electrophysiology.
• Experience in structural biology techniques such as single-particle cryo-EM, model building, molecular docking, and simulations.

Responsibilities

• Conduct structure–function studies of insect olfactory and chemosensory receptors using a variety of approaches.
• Apply a broad range of techniques, including molecular cloning, tissue culture, baculovirus production, protein purification, size-exclusion chromatography, fluorescent assays, electrophysiology, cryo-EM, and computational modeling.
• Design, execute, and analyze experiments.
• Contribute to project development and design.
• Support lab operations and maintenance as needed.

Benefits

• Competitive pay.
• Exceptional health benefits.
• Retirement plans.
• Time off.
• Recognition and wellness programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees