Staff Research Assistant

University of Oklahoma•Oklahoma City, OK

9d•$33,600 - $43,700•Onsite

About The Position

The Dalebroux Lab is seeking a detail-oriented and task-driven Staff Research Assistant to join their team. This role involves employing techniques in bacteriology, biochemistry, molecular biology, eukaryotic cell culture, and genetics to investigate environmental signals that cue specific OMV production by Bacteroides and to discern bacterial molecules within these OMVs that influence gut homeostasis and dysbiosis during health and disease, particularly as it relates to C. difficile infection. The position requires working with Biosafety Level 2 microbes, which pose a moderate potential threat to personnel or the environment. The work includes applying sterile technique and biohazard precautions to culture Bacteroides species and Clostridioides difficile under microaerophilic and anaerobic conditions. Routine tasks involve preparing culture media and reagents, rinsing glassware, and autoclaving materials. Frequent calculations of molarity, concentration, and dilutions will be necessary. The role requires regular use of centrifuges for collecting bacteria and isolating secreted vesicles. Molecular biology, chemistry, and biochemistry techniques such as lysis, membrane isolation, protein quantification, SDS-PAGE, glycolipid extraction and staining, and lipid extraction and analysis will be performed. The project also involves working with and maintaining eukaryotic tissue cultures of human cell lines and primary cells, including assays like cytotoxicity measurements, ELISA, and Western Blotting. Experience with aseptic technique and pipetting is desired. The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented and task-driven, with experience in a research environment. The individual will collaborate directly with the Principal Investigator to achieve research goals and maintain Institution Biosafety standards. Experience with maintaining a laboratory notebook, recording and summarizing experimental results, and communicating data, hypotheses, and experimental approaches is also desired.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Biology, Psychology, Engineering, Computer Science, Sociology, or a related discipline aligned with the specific area of research or project focus)
1 year of experience supporting research or working in a laboratory setting
Experience or a combination of education & related experience can be considered in lieu of degree. A one-to-one ratio is used to determine the number of years of experience required in place of a degree.

Nice To Haves

Experience with aseptic technique and pipetting
Experience with maintaining a laboratory notebook, recording and summarizing experimental results, and communicating data, hypotheses, and experimental approaches

Responsibilities

Apply sterile technique and appropriate biohazard precautions to culture Bacteroides species and Clostridioides difficile under microaerophilic and anaerobic conditions.
Prepare culture media and reagents.
Rinse glassware and autoclave media and plasticwares.
Perform calculations of molarity, concentration, and dilutions.
Use slow and high-speed centrifuges for collecting bacteria and isolating secreted vesicles.
Perform molecular biology, chemistry, and biochemistry techniques such as mechanical and chemical lysis of bacteria, membrane isolation, protein quantification, SDS-PAGE, glycolipid extraction and staining, and lipid extraction and analysis by thin-layer chromatography.
Work with and maintain eukaryotic tissue cultures of human cell lines and primary cells.
Perform assays including cytotoxicity measurements, ELISA, and Western Blotting.
Maintain a laboratory notebook, record and summarize experimental results.
Communicate data, hypotheses, and experimental approaches.
Work directly with the Principal Investigator to accomplish primary research goals.
Maintain Institution Biosafety standards.