Research Assistant

The Research Assistant I in the Opendak Lab will help with the day-to-day operations of the lab, including maintaining the animal colony and inventory lists, supervising the work of undergraduates, and collecting data.

1. Help maintain animal colony and order supplies.
2. Perform research techniques, protocols, and research methods under direction of the Principal Investigator (PI).
3. Conduct developmental neurobiology experiments and collect data: perform surgeries, electrophysiological recordings, behavioral experiments, tissue processing, and data analysis.
4. Develop graphs, reports, and presentations of project results.
5. Oversee undergraduates in data analysis theory and implementation.
6. Perform statistical analyses for projects and reports to level of expertise.
7. Help prepare publications, grants, presentations, and posters based on Opendak Lab research. Present at conferences as assigned.
8. Enhance professional growth and development through conferences, educational programs, inservice meetings, workshops, and seminars

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor’s degree in science-related field required (e.g., biology, neuroscience, psychology, biomedical engineering, mathematics, computer science, or physics).

EXPERIENCE:

• Basic background in neurobiology techniques and ability to learn new skills on the job including: rodent social behavior, circuit dissection tools (surgery, behavioral assays, histology), electrophysiological recordings and analysis (telemetry, Spike2, Ethovision, Boris) and how to maintain a low stress colony environment for pups.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products such as Excel, Power Point, Word, and Spike2 to help the laboratory meet presentation preparation and reporting goals.
• Prior working knowledge in at least one Statistical software (SPSS, R or SAS) is preferred.