Research Associate II – Infectious Disease – Heung Lab

Principal Investigator, Lena Heung, MD, PhD is looking for a Research Associate to join her team!

The research of Lena Heung, MD, PhD, focuses on the roles of innate immune cells in the host response to respiratory fungal pathogens, in particular Cryptococcus neoformans. C. neoformans is an environmental fungus that can cause highly fatal lung and central nervous system infections in immunocompromised patients, including those with HIV/AIDS, cancer, solid organ transplantation and autoimmune conditions. The goal of Dr. Heung’s research is to define the innate immune mechanisms that determine host outcomes after infection in order to facilitate the development of immunomodulatory therapies for susceptible patients.

Are you a passionate and dedicated research professional?

Working under direct supervision, as a Research Associate II (RAII), perform routine and increasingly complex laboratory tasks and procedures and develops technical expertise in one or more areas relevant to research projects. The RAII participates in research activities involving all aspects of the research process including investigation, technical, testing/validation of results, and report findings. Supports the objectives of laboratory research projects and will observe and comply with safety standards and procedures, assist in preparation of data for publication and/or presentation at scholarly meetings, and assist in general laboratory maintenance. This role does not have supervisory responsibilities.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Performs a variety of increasingly complex experimental protocols and procedures and assist in the design of new complex or unusual protocols and techniques.
• Keeps accurate and detailed records of experiments and results and assists in identifying and troubleshooting of unexpected results.
• Orders laboratory supplies and supports laboratory operations.
• Maintains lab equipment and related records and may coordinate use of lab equipment.
• Assists in the operation of specialized equipment, as required by the area of research.
• Orients research laboratory assistants or lower level research associates and undergraduate student researchers on day-to-day lab operations and routine procedures.

Department and/or unit specific responsibilities:

• Organize and maintain mouse lines specific to the lab of Dr. Lena Heung.
• Perform animal work including infections, injections, and tissue harvest as well as breeding, weaning, and genotyping of transgenic and knockout animals.
• Other duties may include: Tissue culture, preparation of microbial cultures, ELISA, Western blotting, quantitative RT-PCR, flow cytometry, immunohistochemical and quantitative analysis of tissue samples, organization and maintenance of samples and other laboratory stock material.
• Assist other researchers as assigned.

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Educational Requirements:

• Minimum of a Bachelor of Science, required

Experience and Skillset:

• One (1) years of laboratory experience, required
• Understanding of general research objectives.
• Knowledgeable in routine laboratory procedures, experimental protocols, and overall lab organization.
• Must be highly motivated and work independently.
• Must have superior interpersonal, communication and organization skills and the ability to work across company specialties and functional units, and computer application experience.
• Must possess computer skills to include, but not limited to, Excel and Word.
• Ability to simultaneously manage multiple clerical trials, and attention to details.