Job Posting for Research Assistant - Infectious Disease at Infectious Disease - Jobs@UIOWA Careers
The Research Assistant will be responsible for maintaining the laboratory and performing research related activities within the University of Iowa Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Disease. This position will provide support by performing administrative duties related to ordering lab supplies, maintenance and organization of protocols and documents, remaining in compliance with various standard operating procedures and requirements, and conducting experiments related to host-pathogen interactions during infection and inflammation. This is a specified term position.
Duties to include:
Research
Perform research activities based upon protocols developed by other research staff or principal investigator of the research project.
Read and review articles as directed and develop and maintain a working knowledge of the field and concepts pertaining to the project through familiarity with the scientific literature and attendance of internal and external meetings, seminars, workshops, and conferences when appropriate.
As individual skills develop, search, compile, and critically evaluate scientific literature.
Maintain a good knowledge of the relevant literature and of the wider field and actively promote this to the group.
Take a proactive approach to learning and implementing new techniques and approaches.
Conduct Experiments, Investigations, Evaluations
Read and understand protocols; as individual skills develop, troubleshoot, and propose modifications to existing protocols or develop new protocols with other researchers or principal investigator.
Plan and perform experimental procedures assuring fidelity to protocols.
Perform research activities related to host-pathogen interactions during infection and inflammation.
Maintain, implement and culture cultured cell lines.
Help to maintain a zebrafish colony by tracking in- and out-crossings, setting up mating tanks and raising larvae.
Manage instruments, reagents, and biological resources efficiently.
Troubleshoot and maintain procedures and instrumentation.
Carry out molecular biology techniques, including immunohistochemistry, DNA and RNA extraction and purification, PCR, gel electrophoresis, and basic bioinformatics.
Operate light microscopes and acquire microscopic imaging data, including confocal.
Collect, Analyze and Summarize Data; Prepare Reports; Contribute to Manuscripts, Publications
Collect, record, organize, and as skills develop, analyze, data.
Develop familiarity with basic spreadsheets and statistical concepts and software.
Prepare figures and methods, bibliographies, and abstracts for use in posters, manuscripts, and grant application.
Present results at lab meetings and other intra- and extra-mural meetings
As individual skills develop, prepare materials for abstracts, reports, grant applications, and manuscripts.
Administrative and Project Management
Assist with procurement of lab supplies and materials.
Ordering and setting up laboratory equipment.
Organize and maintain protocols and administrative documents.
Arrange and plan daily, weekly, and monthly activities to prepare for and perform experiments.
Track progress of research projects and regularly communicate with PI both verbally and through regular written updates.
Facilities and Equipment Management
Develop and monitor quality control testing of equipment as necessary.
Assist in the preparation, calibration, and maintenance of laboratory and facility equipment.
Adhere to safety and compliance guidelines.
Supervision/Staffing
May train, provide direction, assignments, and feedback to other employees.
About the Stead Family Department of Pediatrics and UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital
The Stead Family Department of Pediatrics is a national leader in pediatric medicine. The Department's mission is to provide outstanding care to the children of Iowa and beyond by being a leader in state-of-the-art clinical care to children, performing cutting-edge research to find new treatments and cures for childhood illnesses, and educating the next generation of pediatric health care providers. The Department comprises the medical and research staff of UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital. UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital is one of the nation’s top-ranked pediatric care and research institutions, and Iowa’s only comprehensive children’s hospital.
About the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases:
The Division of Infectious Disease participates in all three components of the Stead Family Department of Pediatrics mission: patient care, research and education.
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in science, engineering or a related field OR equivalent combination of education and related laboratory experience.
Minimum of 6 months experience in biomedical research.
Demonstrated proficiency maintaining excellent lab notes and records.
Willing to perform animal-based experiments of infection and immune responses.
Demonstrated experience balancing a supervised position with opportunities for autonomy.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Highly Desired Qualifications:
Master’s degree in a related field is highly desired.
Experience with cell culture techniques such as storing and maintaining self-propagating cell lines and conditioning primary cells such as human peripheral blood monocytic cells.
Experience with genetic manipulations of cultured cells, fungi and/or bacteria.
Demonstrated ability to multi-task, organize priorities and work independently to meet deadlines.
Desired Qualifications:
Experience with basic biostatistics.
Experience in basic molecular biology techniques such as cloning, western blotting, or PCR.
Experience in basic microbiological sterile techniques.
Excellent attention to detail.
Position and Application details:
In order to be considered for an interview, applicants must upload the following documents and mark them as a “Relevant File” to the submission:
Resume
Cover Letter
Job openings are posted for a minimum of 14 calendar days and may be removed from posting and filled any time after the original posting period has ended.
Successful candidates will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. Up to 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process.
For additional questions, please contact pedsuichildrens@healthcare.uiowa.edu
This position is not eligible for University sponsorship for employment authorization.
Salary.com Estimation for Research Assistant - Infectious Disease in Iowa, IA
$61,151 to $81,992
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