• Job Type: Support Staff - Non-Union
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: Commensurate with experience

Position Summary

Columbia University's Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute (Zuckerman Institute) supports interdisciplinary neuroscience research and discovery by scientists and scholars across the university and promises to be the most comprehensive institute for brain science. Located in a state-of-the-art facility, world class researchers are brought together to transform our understanding of the brain and mind.

The laboratory of Dr. Richard Axel at the Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute has an open full-time position for a Research Staff Assistant (lab technician). The research assistant will work closely with a postdoctoral researcher to conduct laboratory experiments and data analysis within a project studying information seeking, curiosity, and olfactory neural processing in mice. This position provides the opportunity to participate in the vibrant intellectual community of the Axel laboratory within the Zuckerman Institute, located in the state-of-the-art Jerome L. Greene Science Center on Columbia’s Manhattanville campus in Manhattan. The Axel laboratory is a world leader in the study of the brain’s transformation of olfactory information in the external world into appropriate behavioral responses. We seek someone who is eager to learn, takes direction and responsibility, and is enthusiastic about our science. This position is grant funded. This is a full-time position.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

 Perform behavioral training on rodents;
 Perform animal manipulations including non-survival and survival surgeries;
 Collecting and analyzing behavioral and neural activity data using Matlab, Excel, and/or Python
 Assist with administrative and documentation tasks relates to experiments.

Minimum Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree in neuroscience, biology or another related area of science is required.  A minimum of 2 years of related experience in a research environment.

Preferred Qualifications

Familiarity with molecular biology, histology, micro-dissection, or programming (Matlab, Python, or similar language) a plus.

The ideal candidate must show an ability to work independently with accuracy and attention to detail. They must be flexible in nature and exhibit a willingness to learn new techniques and function in a fast-paced and changing work environment. They must possess strong organizational skills, keep excellent notes, show sound judgment, and have a collaborative style that fosters teamwork and cooperation as well as the ability to work independently within a diverse and dynamic team environment.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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