Research Assistant I - Children's Nutrition Research Center

Summary

This is a full-time research position opening at the Children's Nutrition Research Center. The research focus of our lab is the role of nutrition in early life on the growth and function of skeletal muscle. The successful candidate will be involved in projects that will evaluate the effect of diet on skeletal muscle growth and function in experimental animal models. The job will require analytical work on collected specimens using: isolation and handling of primary cell cultures; biochemical, molecular biology, and histological techniques; handling mice, including breeding, and genotyping. Implementation of approaches to understand epigenetic mechanisms that regulate DNA transcription during development are also anticipated.

Job Duties

• Plans and conducts research experiments, evaluates and analyzes data, summarizes results for presentation, and reports to principal investigator.
• Coordinates procedures with collaborators and other lab members.
• Conducts bench analytical work using a variety of cell and molecular biology techniques, including isolation, culture, and characterization of primary cells.
• Maintains careful and detailed documentation of experiments in lab notebooks and collected data and its analysis. This requires a working knowledge of spreadsheets, some statistics, writing, and word processing skills.
• Develops new methodologies, identifies problems, and suggests solutions.
• Ensures that necessary supplies are ordered and available when needed; maintains track of budget.
• Engages in good laboratory practices to ensure that: the laboratory is clean and organized; equipment is maintained in optimal condition; appropriate safety protocols are followed; institutional regulatory protocols are followed and appropriate documentation is maintained up to date.
• Performs other job-related duties, including assigning responsibilities and instructing less experienced lab members.
• Conducts literature searches and summarizes information in an appropriate format as needed in support of on-going.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a Basic Science or a related field.
• Two years of relevant experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a biological science.
• Master's degree in a biological science.
• 2-3 years of experience directly working in a lab.
• Experience with mammalian cell culture methods
• Experience with histology, and microscopy, is a plus.

Baylor College of Medicine is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Equal Access Employer.