Research Specialist I

As a community, the University of Rochester is defined by a deep commitment to Meliora - Ever Better. Embedded in that ideal are the values we share: equity, leadership, integrity, openness, respect, and accountability. Together, we will set the highest standards for how we treat each other to ensure our community is welcoming to all and is a place where all can thrive.

Job Location (Full Address):

601 Elmwood Ave, Room 16410, Rochester, New York, United States of America, 14642

Opening:

Worker Subtype:

Regular

Time Type:

Full time

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

40

Department:

400151 Urology M&D

Work Shift:

UR - Day (United States of America)

Range:

UR URG 107

Compensation Range:

$47,972.00 - $67,161.00

The referenced pay range represents the minimum and maximum compensation for this job. Individual annual salaries/hourly rates will be set within the job's compensation range, and will be determined by considering factors including, but not limited to, market data, education, experience, qualifications, expertise of the individual, and internal equity considerations.

Responsibilities:

GENERAL PURPOSE
Provides direct research support and offers opportunity for future experimental and scientific development. Supports the planning, design, and execution of experiments, as well as direct studies. Uses existing protocols and collaborates with other laboratories. Works independently with occasional input on modifying, varying or adapting standard laboratory procedures to meet special needs of research projects.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Contributes to the design and conducts experimental research and investigations to explore and support lab goals, grant commitments, scientific discovery, and/or development.

Research goals position will assist with include:

• Maintains and manipulates cancer cell lines and patient-derived cell models under sterile tissue culture conditions.
• Extracts and quantifies DNA, RNA, and protein from cultured cells and tissue specimens (including human tumor samples).
• Performs quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) to assess gene expression profiles relevant to tumor progression, treatment resistance, and biomarker discovery.
• Conducts Western blotting for protein expression and signaling pathway analysis in urologic cancer models.
• Carries out immunofluorescence microscopy to visualize protein localization, DNA damage, and cell cycle changes in cancer cells.

Records, interprets, and conducts analyses and scientific data utilizing standard methods and develops modifications of standard methods to meet special situations.

• Uses Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) for data analysis, figure generation, lab documentation, and report preparation.
• Maintains detailed and accurate laboratory records, including electronic lab notebooks and data files.
• Participates in formulating research methods and suggesting options for improving quality and recommending solutions.
• Participates in computer database design and utilization, research/data analysis, and suggests future improvements in data measurement.
• Develops research documentation, such as protocols, reports, reviews, publications, manuscripts, and/or summaries.
• May be responsible for the operation of a specialized laboratory or research area within a department and/or field work and related data analysis for a research project.
• Remains knowledgeable of relevant scientific and technical developments.
• Attends/participates in weekly lab meetings, and as appropriate, institutes, and seminars.

Other duties as assigned

MINIMUM EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree with major course work in the field of assignment Required
• 1 year of related work experience involving direct assistance to researchers required.  Required

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Familiarity with MS Office programs (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel) required
• Ability to generate and organize large sets of data, strains, and plasmids, and familiarity with all aspects of a laboratory to effectively help organize the lab required
• Ability to troubleshoot and repair equipment as needed required

The University of Rochester is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving an inclusive and welcoming culture to advance the University’s Mission to Learn, Discover, Heal, Create – and Make the World Ever Better. In support of our values and those of our society, the University is committed to not discriminating on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity