Research Assistant

About the Role

This position supports ongoing research in the laboratory of Dr. Tamara Phillips, focusing on understanding the mechanisms involved in drug and alcohol intake, responses, and other addiction-related traits in mice. The research utilizes behavioral, molecular, and pharmacogenetic tools, and investigates potential therapies for addiction.

Key Responsibilities

• Behavioral testing of mice using various assays:
• Locomotor activity
• Motor coordination
• Body temperature
• 2-bottle choice drinking
• Single bottle limited access drinking
• Operant self-administration
• Drug conditioned place preference
• Drug conditioned taste aversion
• Cognitive testing
• Other behavioral assays as dictated by research aims, potentially as part of collaborative endeavors.
• Preparation and planning for biomedical experiments, including:
• Obtaining subjects, supplies, and reserving space/equipment.
• Ensuring proper environment for subjects.
• Creating data collection sheets.
• Aiding with experimental protocol development.
• Obtaining final protocol approval.
• Other duties as assigned to ensure successful study completion, involving discussions with lab staff and other laboratories.
• Data collection and entry for biomedical experiments, maintaining orderly and timely physical and electronic records.
• Recording experimental data, results, deviations from protocol, and issues during experiments accurately and legibly for replication.
• Double-checking experimental data entry.
• Providing all results to the lab manager/PI in a timely manner.
• Lab/equipment maintenance and supply ordering.
• Record keeping, data analysis, and archiving.
• Data figure preparation.
• Other duties as needed, including:
• Brain surgery
• Brain harvesting
• Brain slicing for immunohistochemical (IHC) or structural analysis
• IHC analysis for c-fos or other proteins
• Radioimmunoassay for specific hormones or neurotransmitters
• DNA sampling and extraction
• Quantitative PCR genotyping

Requirements & Tech Stack

• MS Office software proficiency.
• Demonstrated knowledge of statistical software and its use for data analysis.
• Applied expertise with laboratory animal handling.
• Proven track record of performing detailed laboratory work.
• Proven track record of working collegially in a group setting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field; OR
• Associate's degree AND 3 years of relevant experience; OR
• 4 years of relevant experience; OR
• Equivalent combination of training and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• B.S. in Biology, Experimental or Physiological Psychology, or Neuroscience field.
• 2-5 years of laboratory experience performing mouse behavior protocols.
• Strong statistical expertise.
• Advanced proficiency in small rodent handling, husbandry, and behavioral testing.
• Experience with pharmacological research, including drug administration via subcutaneous (SC), intraperitoneal (IP), and/or intravenous (IV) injection routes.
• Experience independently performing end-to-end tissue processing workflows, including tissue collection, tissue sectioning (cryostat/microtome), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and PCR-based genotyping.
• Demonstratable experience with advanced statistical analysis (e.g., ANOVA, t-tests, regression).
• Demonstratable experience with production of publication-ready data figures and graphical representations.
• Proven track record of autonomy in experimental execution, troubleshooting protocols, and managing daily laboratory workflows with minimal supervision.

Additional Details

• Work schedule is largely Monday - Friday, eight hours per day, but some weekend/holiday work and longer workdays should be expected, with variable specific hours.