Research Assistant 1 - MCRI Huggins Lab

Job Profile Summary 

​This role focuses on performing work related to research and development of new products, innovation, and improvement of products and processes.  In addition, this role focuses on performing the following Research Programs and Projects duties: Supports the development of new products and innovation.  Includes Clinical roles focused on research projects.  Positions in this family perform basic, translational, and/or clinical research towards solving a specific problem for an entity or community.  A professional individual contributor role that may direct the work of other lower level professionals or manage processes and programs.  The majority of time is spent overseeing the design, implementation or delivery of processes, programs and policies using specialized knowledge and skills typically acquired through advanced education.   An entry level role that applies broad theoretical job knowledge typically obtained through advanced education.  May require the following proficiency:  work is closely supervised, problems faced are not typically difficult or complex, and explains facts, policies and practices related to job area. 

Job Overview 

This position reports to the Principal Investigator, Dr. Howard Chen, and provides assistance in support of research activities.  The Chen laboratory studies autophagy and apoptosis in cardiomyopathy and heart failure in order to develop new therapeutic strategies.  

Job Description 

Minimum Qualifications: 

1. High school diploma or equivalent. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

1. 0-2 years of research experience. 

2. Bachelor’s degree preferred in biology, biochemistry, physiology or other bioscience program.

Duties and Responsibilities: The duties and responsibilities listed below are intended to describe the general nature of work and are not intended to be an all-inclusive list.  Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned. 

• Maintains established departmental policies and procedures, objectives, quality assurance programs, safety, environmental and infection control standards.

• Performs a variety of routine laboratory tests and procedures according to prescribed protocols and assigned schedules.

• Maintains animal colonies. 

• Maintains records of results and methodology.  Log work performed.

• Uses an appropriate safety procedure for handling, storage and disposal of biohazardous, infectious, radioactive and toxic substances.  Ensures that all laboratory activities are carried out in compliance with such procedures.

• Maintains department records, reports and files as required.

• Enhances professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, current literature, in-service meetings, and workshops.

• Attends meetings as required.

• Maintains collaborative, team relationships with peers and colleagues in order to effectively contribute to the working groups achievement of goals, and to help foster a positive work environment

• Performs other similar and related duties as required or directed.

Physical Requirements:  

• Normal laboratory environment.  May be exposed to radioactivity, chemicals used in DNA, PCR technology and protein electrophoresis, biohazardous material, and replication deficient adenoviruses, under controlled conditions in accordance with institutional safety standard requirements. 

• May include work in the evening, nights or weekends.

• Must be able to perform all essential functions of this position with reasonable accommodation if disabled.

• May access PHI/HIPAA identifiers as part of daily tasks.