Technical Research Asst II - MRA

Mass General Brigham•Belmont, CA

15h•$23 - $34•Onsite

About The Position

Mass General Brigham relies on a wide range of professionals, including doctors, nurses, business people, tech experts, researchers, and systems analysts to advance our mission. As a not-for-profit, we support patient care, research, teaching, and community service, striving to provide exceptional care. We believe that high-performing teams drive groundbreaking medical discoveries and invite all applicants to join us and experience what it means to be part of Mass General Brigham. This is a position for a Tissue Coordinator at the Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center (HBTRC), a brain repository part of the NIH NeuroBioBank. The HBTRC is a centralized resource for the collection and distribution of human brain specimens for research. We receive brain donations from across the US and make tissue samples available to investigators across the world. This research is of critical importance in furthering our understanding of disorders of the nervous system, such as neurological, neurodevelopmental, and psychiatric disorders. Summary The research assistant will work very independently, under general supervision, on all aspects of a research project involving behavioral pharmacology and molecular genetic methods in laboratory rodents in the Neurobiology of Motivated Behavior Laboratory. The RA will master, execute, and comprehend protocols involving a variety of routine and non-routine laboratory experiments at a professional level. They may develop modification of existing techniques, as appropriate. In collaboration with other members of the research team, they give input to the development and improvement of design protocols. They calculate, transcribe, and analyze data using statistical techniques. May be responsible for orienting and training new staff. May serve in a supervisory role in a smaller lab.

Requirements

Must be proficient with Microsoft Word and Excel. Must demonstrate attention to details and accuracy in data entry
The candidate must be able to work independently, with minimal supervision.
Must have exceptional interpersonal skills and work well within a team
Requires basic understanding of HIPAA regulations, patient confidentiality and IT security. Must possess integrity to maintain confidentiality and respect for subjects’ right and individual need
All McLean team members are expected to consistently demonstrate our values of integrity, compassion, respect, diversity, teamwork, excellence and innovation in their work activities and interactions.
Bachelor's Degree required
At least one year of experience in a directly related research setting 1-2 years required
Positive work ethic.
Good time management skills.
Sound analytical and organizational skills.
Requires good oral and written communication skills.
Must be able to logically and effectively structure tasks and set priorities.
Ability to identify potential problems and troubleshoot solutions.
Comfortable and competent handling rodents for behavioral studies.

Nice To Haves

Experience with histology, neuropathology and, particularly, neuroanatomy is strongly preferred for this position.
Experience with the medical environment, knowledge of clinical terms particularly related to psychiatry, neurology and pharmacology, experience related to clinical record use are strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Perform brain dissections during regular hours and off-hours
Prepare tissue samples for distribution to investigators, interacting with them as needed to ensure that the samples match their request. Coordinating with other NeuroBioBank tissue repositories to fulfill criteria of requested cohort.
Work with other Tissue Coordinators to maintain an accurate tissue inventory, tracking and storage maintenance of the frozen and fixed tissue inventory
Arrange for the annual preventative maintenance and calibration of equipment. Responsible for keeping the lab equipment clean and running optimally, upgrading equipment as needed, ordering supplies, and keeping the laboratory clean, neat, and orderly.
Responsible for keeping track of the laboratory’s production, and provide laboratory statistics for monthly departmental staff meetings, progress reports, and grant applications/renewals.
Participate in conducting visits to the HBTRC laboratories.
Off-hours brain donation coordination (remotely - carry HBTRC ‘on call’ phone and perform all procedures necessary to arrange for brain donation
Contribute to preparation and updates of standard operating procedures (SOPs) relevant to their responsibilities
All other duties as assigned
Independently performs stereotactic rodent surgery and rodent transcardial perfusions, which requires a high level of visual acuity, eye-hand coordination, and mental focus.
Independently performs rodent behavioral assays, which are moderate to complex. Behaviors include intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS), intravenous self-administration (IVSA), place conditioning, as well as rodent handling and monitoring,
Independently performs routine and non-routine experiments, which are moderate to complex. Experiments may include specific assays (ELISA, immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, qRT-PCR), and histological examination of brain tissue.
Calculates, transcribes and analyzes data using Microsoft Excel and GraphPad Prism, among others.
Helps other lab members run routine experiments when help is needed. In general operates as a contributing team member.
Performs literature searches and helps to prepare presentations and written articles for publication.
In collaboration with senior members of the lab, establishes new and modifies existing research techniques.
Ability and eagerness to constantly learn and strive for independence in day-to-day work.