Research Assistant I - Cancer Biology

The Cancer Biology department has a long history of being a leader in the field of basic and translational cancer biology research. The department emphasizes the training of students, postdoctoral fellows and clinical fellows in the fundamentals of tumor biology to improve the outcomes of patients with malignancies. The department has built a program with close ties to many clinical departments to facilitate information exchange between the laboratory and the clinic. As such, faculty in the department are investigators on NIH funded collaborative cancer biology research grants. In addition, there are several physician-scientists who have joint appointments in Cancer Biology, facilitating the exchange of clinically-relevant information between the laboratory and the clinic.

Do you enjoy exploring and discovering new biology? Are you interested in learning more about the molecular mechanism underlying diseases including cancer? Come join the Schlacher Laboratory to learn how to perform experiments and develop skills in laboratory operations. The primary purpose of the Research Assistant I is to provide technical assistance in either 1) animal experiments, 2) immunofluorescent microscopy, patient cell culture and general molecular biology. In addition, duties will include assistance with organizing reagents and samples, and assistance with general laboratory duties. The position requires independent decision-making, judgment and high organizational skills. The incumbent is responsible for maintaining safety standards in the laboratory.

Key Functions

Animal Husbandry / Tissue Processing / Molecular Biology

The Research Assistant I will receive training toward, and provide assistance toward either 1 of the 3 tasks:

• Animal experiments: ear tagging of mice, tail clipping of mice, DNA extraction, PCR analysis, and interpretation of genotyping results.
• Tissue processing and immunohistochemistry: utilization of a tissue processor to embed tissues, cut sections, and perform immunohistochemistry staining of tissue for microscopic evaluation
• Exosomes enrichment and molecular biology: processing conditioned media from cultured cells, operate ultracentrifuges and other equipment in the quality control of exosomes production.

Other day to day activities include, common to each of the 3 tasks listed above include:

• Efficiently maintain inventory.
• Maintain scientific records.
• Organize data collected.

Training

• Attends weekly laboratory meeting,
• Assists the laboratory manager with laboratory maintenance tasks (laboratory inspections, inventory review, ordering storage of inventory,
• Assists and/or trains other personnel in the laboratory.

Prior knowledge or training is preferred, but not required.

Other duties as assigned

Education

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

Experience

Required: None.

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