Research Assistant II - Immunology (Wet Lab)

The Immunology department at MD Anderson Cancer Center seeks to determine the fundamental cellular and molecular mechanisms of a wide range of processes by which the body recognizes and eliminates pathogens and use these findings to unleash the patient's own immune system against previously treatment-resistant cancers. Treating the immune system rather than the cancer itself, the therapeutics developed are applicable to many cancers.

KEY FUNCTIONS

Tissue Culture

• Maintains and establishes tissue culture cell lines, which requires good sterile technique and ability to determine cell counts and cell viability using microscope and hemocytometer.
• Monitors, orders and shelves tissue culture supplies.
• Establishes cell lines from mouse tumor tissue.
• Some protocols require work on weekends/holidays and time away must be coordinated with other staff to ensure cell lines are maintained.

Lab Functions

• Responsible for ordering laboratory animals, and maintaining up-to date animal inventory.
• Setting up breedings, transferring cages between rooms, ear tagging and tail snipping, and updating breeding and genotyping records.
• Performs techniques in immunological research, including in vivo models (tumor and autoimmune mouse models) and in vitro measurements of immune function (lymphocyte Isolations and culturing, immunofluorescent staining, ELISA, ELISPOT, Western blotting).
• Calculates molarity and accurately prepares media solutions and reagents.
• Willingness to learn techniques for handling chemicals and use of an irradiator.

Lab Maintenance

• Maintains detailed written reports of experimental data and protocols.
• Discusses goals of projects and strategy for attaining the goals, communicates the results, or any potential problems with supervisor and lab members in clear and concise manner.
• Ensures safe and efficient functioning of the lab and pleasant work environment for self and others.
• Responsible for ordering and maintaining laboratory supplies.
• Maintains lab work area, tissue culture room and lab equipment, monitoring it daily to ensure the lab operates safely, is clean, and all equipment is in good working order; understands correct operation of all lab equipment, and follows written instructions/operations manuals.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education

Required: Bachelor's degree with major course works in one of the basic sciences.

Preferred: Master's degree with major course works in one of the basic sciences.

Experience

Required: Two years experience in scientific or experimental research work. No experience required with preferred degree.

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