What are the responsibilities and job description for the Laboratory Animal Research Assistant OR Specialist position at University of Maryland School of Medicine?
Laboratory Animal Research Assistant OR Specialist-(S)
The University of Maryland School of Medicine has an exciting opportunity for a Laboratory Research Assistant or Specialist to join Dr. Summer Thompson's team in the Kahlert Institute for Addiction Medicine.
We are a new integrative behavioral neuroscience lab. We investigate the integrated role of the environment and multiple body systems in individual differences in reward-related behaviors that are altered in psychiatric disorders, from fundamental learning and motivational processes up to complex decision making. We believe that this holistic perspective with an emphasis on precision behavior may provide novel treatment and prevention strategies for psychiatric disorders that could be tailored to individual bodies. We seek researchers who are excited about studying individual differences in behavior, reward, reinforcement learning, alcohol, the gut-brain axis, and / or neuroimmune signaling using integrative approaches who will contribute to a collaborative and inclusive work climate.
Benefits Information
UMB offers a that employees can take advantage of. This position participates in a retirement program (pension or optional retirement plan / ORP) that must be selected and is effective on your date of hire. Exempt regular staff receive a generous PAID leave package that includes over 4 weeks of vacation accrued each year, 16 paid holidays, 3 personal leave, unlimited accrual of sick time, and comprehensive health insurance; professional learning and development programs; tuition remission for employees and their dependents at any University System of Maryland school; and flexible work schedules and teleworking options (if applicable per job).
UMB is a public university and constituent institution of the University System of Maryland. All employees are expected to work primarily physically within the State of Maryland.
Primary Duties - Laboratory Animal Research Assistant :
- Perform routine laboratory maintenance and research activities such as, but not exclusively : general housekeeping, wipe tests, molecular biology assays such as ELISA and qPCR, preparing solutions, and executing biochemical procedures such as electrophoresis, blotting, chromatography, DNA and RNA extractions, and protein purification.
- May perform advanced laboratory research activities such as microscopy techniques, imaging techniques, recombinant DNA techniques, and hybridizations.
- Perform routine animal management and experimental tasks such as : daily observations of animal health; collection of cultures and biological specimens; daily behavioral training or testing; daily management and recording of body weight, food, and fluid intake; administration of pharmacological or other agents; and animal colony management including breeding and environmental enrichment. May also assist with advanced techniques such as animal surgery.
- May assist with constructing, customizing, testing, troubleshooting, repairing, maintaining or cleaning of equipment as well as ordering of required components and explaining / resolving technical issues
- Administer day-to-day laboratory operations including monitoring the budget, ordering supplies, ensuring quality control and safety compliance, developing policies and procedures, and ordering supplies. Coordinating with and managing documentation for regulatory bodies.
- Maintain meticulous, timely, and accurate records of all research activities and communicate them with supervisor and other lab members including presenting research findings in lab meetings..
- Compile, analyze, and / or interpret research data using various relevant computer software applications such as Excel, Graphpad Prism, MATLAB, or R, and may include coding of custom scripts. Analysis may include computational modeling or bioinformatics approaches.
- Assist in the training of undergraduate and graduate students, post-doctoral, international fellows, and / or junior technical personnel in the performance of a variety of laboratory techniques.
- Assist with literature research, editing and preparing manuscripts, scientific illustrations and computer graphics for publication.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Primary Duties - Laboratory Animal Research Specialist :
In addition to performing the duties of the Lab Animal Research Assistant, the Specialist may :
Qualifications
Laboratory Animal Research Assistant
Education : Bachelor's degree in neuroscience, biology, chemistry, veterinary science, biochemistry, or field of study related to the laboratory research topics.
Other : May require training related to occupational safety and health, environmental compliance, shipping of hazardous materials and / or ionizing radiation.
Except for qualifications established by law, additional related experience and formal education in which one has gained the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for full performance of the work of the job class may be substituted for the education or experience requirement. Ability to lift at least 20 lbs. and perform extensive walking and standing preferred.
Laboratory Animal Research Specialist
Education : Bachelor's degree in neuroscience, biology, chemistry, veterinary science, biochemistry, or field of study related to the laboratory research topics.
Experience : Three years of experience including two years in the relevant research specialization.
Other : May require training related to occupational safety and health, environmental compliance, shipping of hazardous materials and / or ionizing radiation.
Except for qualifications established by law, additional related experience and formal education in which one has gained the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for full performance of the work of the job class may be substituted for the education or experience requirement. Ability to lift at least 20 lbs. and perform extensive walking and standing preferred.
Preferred Experience
Experience in mouse handling and behavior or other neuroscience assays, fiber photometry. Conceptual or technical background in host-microbe interactions, omics approaches, neuroimmunology, gastrointestinal or liver physiology, or drug metabolism. MATLAB and / or R coding, computational modeling (e.g., reinforcement learning models) or bioinformatics, statistics. Experience with laboratory administration processes such as management of IACUC protocols or environmental health and safety procedures. Miscellaneous facility in tinkering with mechanical or electrical systems such as 3D printing, power tools, computer hardware components, raspberry pis, etc.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Hiring Range : $48, - $53, (Laboratory Animal Research Assistant) OR $61, - $66, (Laboratory Animal Research Specialist) commensurate with education and experience.
UMB is committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive workforce and is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, ancestry or national origin, sex, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, physical or mental disability, marital status, protected veteran's status, or any other legally protected classification.
The University of Maryland, Baltimore prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to the Title IX Coordinator. Read the
Reg or CII Exempt Staff-ECEmployee Class : Exempt RegularFull Time / Part Time : Full-Time
Shift
Day JobFinancial Disclosure : No
Organization
School of Medicine - Psychiatry
Job Posting
Feb 24,
Unposting Date
Mar 10, , 11 : 59 : 00 PM
Salary : $61 - $66
