Research Science/Engineering Assistant

About the Role

The laboratory of Dr. Ku-lung (Ken) Hsu in the Department of Chemistry, Division of Chemical Biology and Proteomics at The University of Texas at Austin is recruiting several highly motivated individuals to work as a research scientist. These positions are intended for bachelor's and master's level graduates with 0 to 10 years of experience. You will work closely with the laboratory manager, post-docs, and graduate students, requiring a high level of independence once a task is assigned. This is a fixed-term position, renewable based on funding, performance, and progress.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist with routine lab management, including ordering and inventory of supplies and chemicals, chemical disposal, laboratory training, and maintaining instrumentation and equipment.
• Participate in regular group meetings and provide updates and progress reports.
• Potentially perform or assist in managing a rodent colony, including compound treatments, xenograft models, genotyping, weighing, recording animal health, pre- and post-operative care, and recording experimental procedures.
• Perform or assist in experiments related to immunology, cancer, and neuroscience.
• Perform cell isolations/culture, molecular biology, chemical synthesis, and/or operate laboratory instruments and equipment.
• This may include molecular biology, mammalian cell culture, biochemistry, flow cytometry, or culturing cells.
• Conduct experiments involving fluorescence gels, protein purification, affinity chromatography, Western blots, ELISAs, and other assay work.
• Operate equipment such as centrifuges, gel imagers, cell counters, and automated liquid handlers.
• Operate and potentially be trained on mass spectrometers.
• For those with experience or interest in organic synthesis, set up and isolate pure reaction products using standard tools and skills.
• Utilize analytical techniques such as flash chromatography (e.g., Biotage, CombiFlash), NMR, and HPLC.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a scientific discipline.
• Laboratory experience (1-10 years).
• Maintain a complete and comprehensive laboratory notebook.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• Experience with a minimum of one of the following: chemical proteomics, biochemistry, cell biology, mass spectroscopy, synthetic chemistry, flow cytometry, molecular biology, or analytical instrumentation.
• Relevant education and experience may be substituted.

Qualifications

• Experience in more than one of the required qualifications.
• Proficiency with Excel and other Windows programs (Word, PowerPoint, etc.).
• Proficiency with literature searches and science writing.
• Experience in chemical proteomics and operation of mass spectrometers (1 position).
• Several years of experience as a synthetic organic chemist (1 position).

Working Conditions

• Uniforms and/or personal protection equipment (furnished).
• May work in standard office conditions, extreme temperatures, around chemical fumes, chemicals, biohazards, electrical and mechanical hazards, animals, etc.
• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation.
• Use of manual dexterity.
• Climbing of stairs.
• Climbing of ladders.
• Lifting and moving.

Work Shift

• Full-time, requiring flexible hours which may include weekends, evenings, or early mornings.

Required Materials

• Resume/CV
• 3 work references with their contact information (at least one from a supervisor)
• Letter of interest