Senior Research Associate

Description

POSITION OBJECTIVE

Dr. Subauste’s laboratory focuses on cell signaling studies aimed at understanding the regulation of CD40-driven inflammatory disorders (diabetic retinopathy and inflammatory bowel disease, IBD) and the mechanisms activated by an intracellular pathogen (Toxoplasma gondii) to survive within host cells. These studies have reached a translational phase of developing novel approaches to treat inflammatory disorders and toxoplasmosis. The Senior Research Associate will oversee research projects within the lab, providing scientific oversight, guidance to lab members, and lab management in the absence of the principal investigator. The Senior Research Associate will design and plan projects, oversee collaborations, supervise staff and students, manage animal models, and fully execute research projects with the aim of furthering our understanding of how CD40 regulates pro-inflammatory signaling cascades, how intracellular signaling molecules regulate autophagic killing of T. gondii, testing the efficacy of novel CD40 inhibitors in mouse models of diabetic retinopathy and IBD as well as examining the efficacy of cell signaling inhibitors for the treatment of ocular and cerebral toxoplasmosis in mice. The Senior Research Associate will utilize real time qPCR, immunohistochemistry and immunoblot to examine the expression of pathogenic molecules in various transgenic mice developed in the lab, perform in vitro studies that include gene manipulation, confocal and live cell microscopy and assist in the in vitro screening of novel compounds in reporter cells. The Research Associate will keep the PI informed of progress of research projects and provide recommendations on experimental design and project plans. The Senior Research Associate will also present data and findings at lab and scientific meetings, seminars, etc., prepare manuscripts, and contribute preliminary data for grant proposals.  

 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Provide scientific oversight of all research projects, including data collection and maintenance. Establish and manage the day-to-day priorities of the research staff (15%).

2. With the principal investigator, establish goals and objectives for the efficient and timely completion of projects. Meet regularly with the principal investigator to review and set priorities, staff/student-related issues, and future research staff and planning (10%). 

3. Coordinate experiments performed by other lab members, ensuring adequate resources, assisting with experimental design and analysis. Oversee progress of the research projects and provide regular progress reports to the PI; and provide input and recommendation to principal investigator regarding significant developments in research projects. Ensure the PI is informed about the results of lab members and ensure the PI’s experimental strategy is explored by lab members and through independent experiments by the Senior Research Associate (10%). 

4. Independently and with the principal investigator, design, plan, and execute research projects that explore the effects of genetic and pharmacologic manipulation of cell signaling pathways on the expression and localization of various intracellular proteins in animal models of diabetic retinopathy and IBD. The work can also include examination of vesicular trafficking, regulation of survival of intracellular pathogens and studies in mouse models of toxoplasmosis. The work includes performing immunoblots, transfections, confocal microscopy flow cytometry, ELISA, PCR, handling of mice and collection of mouse organs and isolation of primary cells. Maintain accurate records of data and provide findings and recommendations to the PI based on analysis (20%).

5. Develop new techniques and protocols to advance research projects within the lab. Train lab members on new techniques (10%).  

6. Mentor and train lab staff and graduate students; oversee research work and ensure projects are being completed according to the research plan. This will involve teaching other members of the lab techniques and scientific discovery methods, including students and post-docs. Assist and teach both established and new research techniques to other lab members to facilitate their experiments. Coordinate trainings for lab members with the EHS and others, as needed. Supervise research assistants and technicians. Supervise the research and technical work performed by other lab members, ensuring proper lab procedures are followed, and their safety, and ensuring adequate resources are provided for lab work (10%).

7. Present data and findings at laborato