Research Assistant

• Job Type: Support Staff - Union
• Bargaining Unit: SSA
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35 hours
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building:
• Salary Range: $63,234.71-$63,234.71

Position Summary

The Research Assistant will work with a team of researchers for the Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain. The nature of the research is understanding cellular and molecular mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease, cognitive aging, and related disorders. He/she will also contribute conceptual as well as interpretive assistance to the development and implementation of novel ideas that involve possible therapeutic approaches to drug discovery for Alzheimer's disease. Perform other related duties as assigned. 

Responsibilities

• Conducting various wet lab experiments including but not limited to fluorescent immunohistochemistry / immunocytochemistry, mouse behavior and surgeries, iPSC derived neuronal and glial cultures. Primary mouse neuronal cultures.
• Tissue processing, Western blotting, PCR and DNA gel electrophoresis, ELISA, RNA FISH.
• Assist the lab members in developing new therapeutic interventions including but not limited to small molecules, peptides and gene therapy.
• Maintaining animal colonies (primarily mice), genotyping and setting up breeding to generate mice of high quality, including care and feeding, cleaning of the equipment and physical surroundings, and monitoring the health of each animal. Learn new protocols and experimental techniques to conduct and implement novel experiments in the lab.
• Candidate is expected to pay close attention to even minor details while conducting experiments.
• Perform other related duties and responsibilities as assigned/requested.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and at least 1.5 years of related experience or equivalent in education, training and experience. 
• Knowledge of various related laboratory procedures and techniques required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in biomedical sciences and at least 6 years for lab experience.
• Experienced in working with iPSC derived neuronal and glial cultures is highly desirable. Candidate should have an understanding of the anatomy of mouse brain as well as experience working and maintaining a fully functional wet lab, including proficiency in the biochemistry techniques of Western Blotting, PCR and gel electrophoresis, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry, including relevant analytical techniques.
• Experience in Alzheimer’s disease research.
• Experience with mouse husbandry in addition to perfusion, dissecting and slicing sections of the mouse brain using a cryostat.
• Proficient in cell culture techniques for primary cell lines and immortalized cells. Experience working with BSL2 biosafety cabinet.
• Proficient in data recording/analysis in statistical/spreadsheet formats (MS Excel, MS Word, PowerPoint, Prism).
• Experience and prior knowledge of molecular biology techniques is a plus but not required.
• Experience in stereotactic injection to the mouse brain.
• Experience in focused ultrasound of the mouse brain.
• Experience of working with glial cells (microglia & astrocytes) in mouse brain.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.