Research Assistant I - Melanoma Med Oncology - Research

The mission of The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center is to eliminate cancer in Texas, the nation, and the world through outstanding programs that integrate patient care, research and prevention, and through education for undergraduate and graduate students, trainees, professionals, employees and the public .

The Research Assistant I will provide technical assistance in carrying out various research projects.

**The ideal candidate should learn to perform mice experiments, which include tumor growth, drug treatments, surgeries, sample harvests, and transport samples between lab and animal facility**

KEY FUNCTIONS:

Research Experiments and Projects:

* Conducts experiments and research projects in scientific fields under the supervision of faculty, educational or classified research staff. Operate of laboratory apparatus and equipment to carry out experiments. Prepare stock solutions and buffers as part of rotation duties of lab personnel. Maintain laboratory supplies and order necessary reagents for future experiments in a timely manner. Sample preparations for high throughput screens. Prepare large number of samples with constant pipetting, up to 100 samples per day. Work with routine analytical software, and generate graphs and figures of data. Learn and operate specialized experiments like mouse imaging system and Seahorse Extracellular Flux analyzer.

Small Animal Work:

* Perform in vivo experiments which include implantation of cell lines and patient-derived tumors in mice; Perform daily drug treatments, tumor measurements, tissue harvests and downstream processing of harvested samples for generating tissues, protein lysates, DNA/RNA.

Record Keeping and Data Collection:

* Record and evaluates data in accordance with methods requested.
Maintain and update records of cell lines, analytical and tissue samples generated in the laboratory, received from other laboratories.
Transport samples and perform experiments in off-site locations as needed.

In vitro Laboratory Research:

* Perform all required laboratory tasks and experiments that include cell biological experiments like maintenance of cell lines, performing cell proliferation, invasion, cell death & apoptosis assays; Biochemical and molecular experiments like DNA/RNA, metabolite & protein isolation, western blot analysis, qRT-PCR.

Other Duties as assigned As directed by supervisor, and within the specified time frame.

Other duties as assigned

EDUCATION:
Required: Bachelor's degree, major course work in one of the basic sciences.

EXPERIENCE:
Required: No experience.

Preferred: Ability to work with small volumes in the microliter range, and with multiple samples and mice on a daily basis.

It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. http://www.mdanderson.org/about-us/legal-and-policy/legal-statements/eeo-affirmative-action.html