Research Associate – Cell Culture, United States

The Research Associate will work in the Cell-Based Assay Screening Service (C-BASS), Advanced Technology Core for Baylor College of Medicine. Responsibilities will be divided between conducting lab bench collaborative research experiments and projects as services for faculty customer users of the Core.  Will assist with consultation and up-front design of experiments with core users, analysis and reporting data from projects to core users, contributing to technical writing of Core user grants and publications and performing research on the development of new innovative technologies and methods.

https://www.bcm.edu/research/atc-core-labs/cell-based-assay-screening-service

Job Duties

• Perform complex lab experiments in an independent manner using standard operation procedures for functional genomic screening and CRISPR genetic editing projects.
• Communicate with investigator core users during the course of the project and assist, in consultation with core user and Core Director, on decision making steps of projects.
• Participate in consultation with faculty investigator users of the core on the up-front experimental design of projects  and communicate with users during the course of the project.
• Manage and analyzes data using standard methods and the report data and results to the Core user and Technical Core Director.
• Assist with technical writing and input on core user grant submission requiring core supported services and on publications.
• Participate in projects to develop new technologies and methods for the Core.
• Perform some routine smaller scale lab duties such as preparation and distribution of shRNA and CRISPR sgRNA clones and libraries, cell culturing, freezing and inventory of gene edited cloned cell lines.
• Assist the core director with invoicing core users, tracking project requests, ordering and inventory of supplies, equipment maintenace and  preparing information for submitting Core annual progress reports.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Basic Science or a related field.  Experience in lieu of degree will not be accepted.
• Three years of relevant experience typically as a Research Assistant, Research Technician or Postdoctoral Fellow/Associate.

Preferred Qualifications

• A master’s degree in relevant area of biological sciences with research experience related to technologies of the C-BASS Core.
• Ph.D.with some post-doctoral research experience.
• Research experience and competencies in the following areas Molecular genetic cloning techniques including vector design, construction and characterization, recombinant lentiviral production and transduction of cells, genomic library preparation, qPCR, CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing and high through-put genomic screening and instrumentation, and experience with eukaryotic cell culturing techniques.
• Competencies with basic biostatistics and bioinformatics methods and supporting software tools.
• Excellent organizational, record keeping, communication and inter-personnel skills, and ability to work effectively in a team.