Campus Pride Jobs

Job ID 12531 Location Case Main Campus Full/Part Time Full-Time Regular/Temporary Regular Job Description Position Objective Working under general supervision, the Research Assistant 2 will plan and carry out research projects in accordance with general research guidelines. The responsibilities include planning and performing experiments on projects related to cardiac contractile function. The research assistant will work closely with other lab members and focus on research involving molecular biology of cardiac muscle contraction. This position will perform a wide array of cellular and molecular biology experiments using gel electrophoresis, western blots, bacterial transformation and culture, and other in vitro techniques. Essential Functions Plan and carry out research projects that characterize the roles of myofilament contractile proteins in the regulation of cardiac muscle contraction. (6%) Conduct a series of general molecular biology experiments to supply scientific information as part of a larger project. Design and implement cloning strategies, PCR analysis, mutagenesis, expression levels of cardiac proteins by various gel electrophoresis techniques, western blotting, gel purification, plasmid preparation, bacterial transformation, and bacterial culture in order to express highly purified recombinant proteins for biophysical experiments. (35%) Collect and analyze data from mechanical experiments in isolated cardiac and skeletal muscle preparations. (35%) May assist in developing improved techniques, projection methods or procedures related to immunostaining of whole heart sections, isolated muscle fibers, and myofibrils. Train new staff; direct the work of students. (10%) Prepare and present research results in lab meetings. (9%) NonEssential Functions Maintain equipment, prepare buffer/media/reagents, and dispose bio hazardous waste. (2%) Maintain lab records. Oversee inventory and standard operating procedures. (2%) Perform other duties as assigned. (1%) CONTACTS Department: Regular contact with investigators to discuss research, research education, direction, goals and time management. Frequent contact with laboratory employees in collaboration in common research project. University: Occasional interaction with other faculty in the department and the university to provide updates on common collaborative research projects. Utilize core university facilities for experimentation and maintain strong relationship with core mangers for research collaborations. External: Occasional communication with research collaborators from other institutions to exchange information. Students: Occasional contact with students to assist students with their research projects. Supervisory Responsibility No direct supervisory responsibilities. Train new staff and direct the work of students. QUALIFICATIONS Education/Experience: Bachelor's degree in physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology or related scientific field and 1 to 3 years of related experience or Associate's degree in an approved biotechnology program and 2 to 4 years of experience required. REQUIRED SKILLS Knowledge of commonly used concepts, practices and procedures in chemistry, physics, biochemistry and molecular/cellular biology and in vivo cardiovascular function. Experience with computer programming and molecular dynamic preferred. Ability to use various molecular and computational methods to bridge the gap of understanding between structure and experimental observations in cardiac muscle physiology. Able to perform various molecular biology techniques. Prior experience with cell culture and protein expression/purification. Ability to follow instructions and pre-established guidelines to perform the functions of the job with minimal supervision. Strong organizati