BASIC FUNCTION

Provide support for pulmonary research by conducting experiments, collecting and analyzing results and performing operational duties associated with the laboratory including animal and human research. Experience working with pigs and mice required. Responsibilities include preparing reports and contributing to manuscripts/publications. .Lung physiology experiments, lung microdissection and airway cell culture are key components of this work.

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

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.
• As individual skills develop, analyze literature to develop hypotheses for discussion with other researchers or principal investigator.

Experiments, Investigations, Evaluations:

• Read and understand protocols.
• Arrange and plan daily activities to prepare for research protocols.
• Set up and operate research materials or equipment.
• Perform procedures assuring fidelity to protocols.
• Adhere to safety and compliance guidelines.
• Collect, record and consolidate data as directed by the Principal Investigator.
• Track progress of research activities.
• Maintain the validity and integrity of research data.
• Create and maintain cell cultures from pig/human /mouse lungs
• Perform microdissection on pig lungs to create small airway cell cultures
• As individual skills develop: troubleshoot, analyze and propose modifications to protocols; perform complex techniques per protocol; test and evaluate current procedures; develop and implement procedures for monitoring data integrity; present results at team meetings.

Collect, Analyze and Summarize Data; Prepare Reports; Contribute to Manuscripts, Publications:

• Collect and track, perform data entry for reports and maintain records of methods used.
• Prepare materials for reports.
• Analyze data.
• Prepare bibliographies and abstracts for publications.
• May present results/finding at team and departmental meetings.

Administrative and Project Management:

• Assist with animal protocol submissions, if applicable.
• Track various indicators of project progress and summarize in reports to the research team.

Facilities and Equipment Management:

• Assist in the preparation, calibration, and maintenance of laboratory and facility equipment.
• Assist with procurement of supplies and materials.
• May initiate purchasing requests, monitor accounts/expenditures; reconcile statements.

Supervision/Staffing:

• As skills develop, may train, provide direction, assignments, feedback, coaching and counseling of employees to assure outcomes are achieved.

Education Required

A bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required.

Required Qualifications:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required.
• Experience with mouse colony set up and maintenance including inbreeding and general animal husbandry is required
• Experience performing qPCR, DNA sequencing, mRNA isolation, cDNA synthesis, immunoblots, and immunohistochemistry is required.
• Experience performing DNA, RNA, and protein preparation and purification is required.
• Experience performing mouse dissection, including tracheostomy, lung ventilation, BAL collection and lung removal, is required
• Experience with cell and tissue culture is required.
• Experience creating and maintaining lab databases is required.
• Experience working with pigs, including lung removal and small airway dissection is required.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience with pig physiology and w/ animal lung ventilators is highly desirable.
• Experience in operating, troubleshooting, cleaning and maintaining laboratory equipment including spectrophotometer and centrifuge is highly desirable.
• Experience compiling data, performing data analyses and writing summary reports is highly desirable.
• Experience with ordering lab supplies, maintaining EHS compliance and training graduate students is highly desirable.
• Experience working in an academic research institution environment is highly desirable.

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 required to self-disclose any conviction history and 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 michaela-davis-1@uiowa.edu

• Classification Title: Research Assistant
• Appointment Type: Professional and Scientific
• Schedule: Full-time
• Work Modality Options: On Campus

• Pay Level: 3A

• Organization: Healthcare
• Contact Name: Michaela Davis
• Contact Email: michaela-davis-1@uiowa.edu