Senior Staff Associate I & Staff Associate II

Senior Staff Associate I

The Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute at Columbia University brings together researchers from different scientific disciplines to transform our understanding of the mind and brain. In this highly interactive research environment, laboratories work together to gain critical insights into human health by exploring how the brain develops, performs, endures and recovers. The Zuckerman Institute is housed in the Jerome L. Greene Science Center, an architectural masterpiece on Columbia University’s Manhattanville campus.
The Senior Staff Associate I will work with a team of researchers in the Vaughan Lab in the Zuckerman Institute to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms of Alzheimer’s Disease, cognitive aging and other related disorders.

The Senior Staff Associate I will contribute conceptual and interpretive assistance to the development and implementation of novel ideas that involve possible therapeutic approaches to drug discovery for Alzheimer’s Disease and will be expected to conduct experiments with a close attention to detail. Must be proficient in data recording and analysis for interpreting experimental research toward approaches for drug discovery in Alzheimer’s Disease.

The Senior Staff Associate I must have an understanding of the anatomy of mouse brain as well as experience working and maintaining a fully functional wet lab, including proficiency in the biochemistry techniques of Western Blotting, ELISA, fluorescent immunohistochemistry, & confocal microscopy including relevant analytical techniques.

This position is supported by a research grant; initial term of employment is one (1) year with the possibility of renewal, contingent on renewal of grant research funding.

The Senior Staff Associate I will be responsible for, but not limited to, the following:

• Conducting various wet lab experiments including but not limited to stereotactic mousebrain surgery, cell culture, plasmid transfections, AAV and lenti viral vector experiments,brain tissue and cell lysate processing for biochemistry, western blotting, ELISA, andfluorescent immunohistochemistry, mouse behavioral testing.

• Maintaining animal colonies (primarily mice), genotyping and breeding animals toproduce mice of high quality, including care and feeding, cleaning of the equipment andphysical surroundings, and constant concern for the health of each animal.

• Acts as a resource for lab members, manages schedule of Research Staff Assistants withthe direction of the Principal Investigator.

• Learn new protocols and experimental techniques to conduct and implement novelexperiments in the lab.

You may apply directly to this posting by using the copying and pasting the following link: https://pa334.peopleadmin.com/postings/7685

Minimum Degree Required:
Bachelor’s Degree in the Biomedical Sciences required; Master’s degree in the Biomedical Sciences, preferred

Minimum Qualifications:
6 – 10 years of professional experience required; Experience in stereotactic injection to the mouse brain, mouse behavioral testing, research in Alzheimer’s Disease. Mouse husbandry in addition to perfusion, dissecting and slicing sections of the mouse brain using a cryostat. Proficient in cell culture techniques for primary cell lines and immortalized cells, working with BSL2 biosafety cabinet. Proficient in data recording/analysis in statistical/spreadsheet formats (MS Excel, MS Word and PowerPoint)

Preferred Qualifications:
Experience in PCR and DNA gel electrophoresis, & RNA FISH is a plus but not required.

Staff Associtate II

The Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute at Columbia University brings together researchers from different scientific disciplines to transform our understanding of the mind and brain. In this highly interactive research environment, laboratories work together to gain critical insights into human health by exploring how the brain develops, performs, endures and recovers. The Zuckerman Institute is housed in the Jerome L. Greene Science Center, an architectural masterpiece on Columbia University’s Manhattanville campus.

The Staff Associate II will work with a team of researchers in the Vaughan Lab at the Zuckerman Institute, Columbia University. The job will involve acquiring structural/functional MRI (fMRI) imaging of the mouse brain at 9.4T and processing and analyzing the fMRI data with numerical method and deep learning. The Staff Associate II will also contribute conceptual, as well as, interpretive assistance to the development and implementation of novel ideas that involve possible therapeutic approaches to drug discovery for Alzheimer’s Disease.

The Staff Associate II will be responsible for, but not limited to, the following:

• Acquiring and processing structural and functional MRI (fMRI) scans.
• Conducting fMRI data analysis using numerical methods and deep learning.
• Conducting literature reviews.
• Summarizing project results and preparing materials for academic paper writing.
• Attending project meetings, area seminars and other meetings as necessary.
• Preparing progress reports for the PI and funding agency.

Minimum Degree Required:
Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, Biotechonolgy or related field is required

Minimum Qualifications:
4 years of professional experience required; Must have experience operating fMRI equipment, programing skills (Python and Matlab)

You may apply directly to this posting by using the copying and pasting the following link: https://pa334.peopleadmin.com/postings/7977

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents