Research Assistant II -Mice Handling

The Research Assistant II will provide oversight of lab operations and provide technical assistance in carrying out various research projects. Responsible for maintaining laboratory space and performing technical laboratory duties in accordance with general and/or specific plans

Laboratory Experiments - Part 1
Part 1 Perform in vivo animal experiments using nude or SCID or immune competent mice according to standard sterile techniques. Establish subcutaneous and intracranial xenografts of human glioma cell lines according to laboratory protocol. Manipulate xenografts with treatment. Assist principal investigators with these in vivo experiments as requested. Observe and record tumors and animals after treatment. Maintain accurate data by recording changes in animals and tumor size in a written form. Enter data into database and organize data for verbal and visual presentation to principal investigator. Removed treated intracranial and subcutaneous xenografts and process tissue for immunohistochemistry or molecular analysis. Instructs lab personnel in the performance of their specific tasks and duties. Instruct and guide these personnel in relevant research techniques and laboratory practices through verbal communications, written guidelines, and manual demonstration. Ensure personnel adherence to institutional guidelines.

Laboratory Experiments - Part 2
Part 2 Establish and maintain numerous cell cultures using standard tissue culture techniques including; plating cells, transient and stable transfections, proliferation assays, freezing lines properly to assure cell viability, and maintaining an organized cell repository. Isolation and purification of proteins, RNA, and DNA from tumor and normal tissue and cell cultures. Analyze these samples by biochemical and molecular biological techniques including immunoblotting, electrophoresis, EMSA, immunohistochemistry, analysis of gene expression, protein and antibody purification. Manipulation of DNA molecules using recombinant DNA techniques including; restriction digestions, subcloning, PCR, RT-PCR, bacterial transformations, site-directed mutagenesis, radioactive-labeling of DNA, RNA and protein molecules. Successful completion of these assays requires knowledge of general biochemical procedures and good molecular biology technique.

Laboratory Safety/Laboratory Presentations
Knowledge of the institution's safety requirements and procedures in general laboratory practices. Complies with departmental and institutional policies regarding biomedical and radiation safety educational requirements. Must follow instructions of laboratory procedures on safe handling and disposal of radioactive and biohazardous materials. Maintain records of all radioisotope purchases, handling, storage and disposal in accordance with UTMDACC and government regulations. Is responsible for the planning and successful execution of experiments, sometimes concurrently, and the presentation of data at weekly lab meetings. Will maintain accurate protocols of experiments performed, including any modifications, so they are reproducible by other investigators. Will assist in the generation of tables and figures for inclusion in manuscripts and oral presentations. Supervises the use of laboratory equipment and implements safety procedures. Plans training and research work activity for assigned laboratory and research personnel.
Other duties as assigned

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

Preferred Education:
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.

Experience Preferred:

Mice Handling experience

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