Research Assistant

Job Summary:

The Research Assistant will provide technical support in a cardiovascular research lab under the direction of Principal Investigator Dr. Susana Cavallero. Responsibilities will include experiment planning and execution, data collection and analyses; bench work involving lab techniques focused in small animal studies and molecular biology.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist with animal studies in small rodents (mice). Support animal care and research activities in accordance with approved animal use protocols, institutional animal care and use committee (IACUC) requirements, and established animal welfare procedures
• Maintain cultures of endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells

• Perform lab techniques such as Western Blot and immunostaining procedures: selection and preparation of antibody and reagents, imaging in bright-field or fluorescence microscopy

• Prepare buffers, chemical agents, and other solutions as defined by specific research protocols
• Maintain laboratory equipment, including ordering and receiving supplies and managing inventory. Maintain a clean, organized, and safe laboratory environment, including proper labeling, storage, and disposal of chemicals, biological materials, and laboratory waste.
• Follow established laboratory protocols, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and research procedures to ensure consistency, accuracy, and reproducibility of experimental results.
• Assist with experimental planning and preparation, including organizing study materials, preparing experimental timelines, and coordinating sample collection and processing.
• Collect, label, process, store, and track biological specimens and research samples in accordance with established protocols.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and timely laboratory records, including experimental procedures, raw data, sample identifiers, reagent information, and deviations from established protocols.
• Assist with quality control procedures, troubleshoot routine experimental issues, and report unexpected results or technical concerns to the principal investigator or designated laboratory personnel.
• Perform routine data entry, organization, verification, and preliminary analysis using appropriate laboratory software and data management tools.
• Assist in preparing research reports, presentation materials, scientific figures, tables, and supporting documentation for laboratory meetings, conference presentations, and manuscript preparation.
• Comply with institutional policies and applicable regulatory requirements governing laboratory safety, chemical handling, biological materials, animal research, and research data management.
• Monitor laboratory supplies and reagents, maintain inventory records, and coordinate purchasing requests to support uninterrupted research operations.
• Coordinate with the principal investigator, laboratory personnel, students, and collaborating research teams to support research activities and meet project timelines.
• Participate in laboratory training, research discussions, and professional development activities to maintain competency in assigned laboratory techniques and research procedures.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

• Performs other duties as assigned by the PI.

Qualifications/Requirements:

EDUCATION:

• Master’s Degree in Biology, Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences or related field.

EXPERIENCE:

• 1-3 years experience in a related field.
• Previous experience with animal care and handling is required for this position.
• Knowledge of basic genetics, molecular biology, and biochemical principles.

KNOWLEDGE/ABILITY/SKILLS:

• Experience handling laboratory animals (mouse) and designing in vivo experiments to understand mechanism of atherosclerosis
• Familiar with molecular biology techniques including extraction of DNA, RNA and protein, Western blots, cell culture techniques, immunohistochemistry, and instrumentation.
• Ability to use basic laboratory equipment, including centrifuge, pH meter, and PCR. Troubleshooting instruments as needed.
• Demonstrated ability to calculate concentrations of solutions as necessary.
• Ability to carefully follow experimental protocols.
• Capability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent organization skills to create and maintain records accurately, organize raw data into a comprehensible form, maintain laboratory readiness for future experiments.
• Interpersonal skills to effectively interact with faculty, staff, and students. Willing to learn new skills.
• Proficient with MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Internet Explorer.

Compensation:

• $28.82 - $35.50 per hour

Position Status:

• Part-time, Non-Exempt

COMPLEXITY:

• The ability to perform highly detailed work with sustained attention and care while providing/obtaining information on numerous inquiries is paramount to success in this position.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Occasional stooping. Frequent standing. Constant walking, sitting, climbing, reaching high/low levels, finger movement, feeling, speaking clearly, hearing conversationally, and seeing far and near.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Position is on-site unless specific authorization from the manager.
• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Occasionally required to work in confined space.

MENTAL DEMANDS:

• The mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Frequent work on a variety of unrelated tasks. Constant calculating interrupted work, working on a variety of interrelated tasks, and use of sustained concentration, reasoning, judgment, resourcefulness, analytical ability, and ingenuity.

Special Requirements:

• Ability to work effectively with a diverse community.
• As a health professions institution of higher education, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science seeks to protect the health and safety of the University community. As a condition of enrollment and employment, students, faculty, and staff must comply with the current CDU COVID-19 requirements as described on the CDU COVID-19 webpage. Please visit the CDU Return to Campus website https://www.cdrewu.edu/covid-policy/ or email the Campus Nursing Office at nurseofficer@cdrewu.edu.

Conditional Employment:

The employment status of this position is classified as “Conditional.” Conditional employment means that the job exists contingent upon continued funding and limitations of restricted funds or, the duration of a specific program, project, grant, or contract. Since your salary is funded by Novel Mechanisms and Vascular grant with an end date of 6/30/2027, your position is contingent upon the continued receipt of these funds. Continuation of your position is dependent, in part, upon funding availability. Furthermore, no work may be performed after the grant end date(s) unless you have received an extension in writing from a Dean, Division VP, or Human Resources.

EEO Statement: Charles R. Drew University is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity. Applicants will be considered without regard to gender, race, age, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, disability or covered veteran status.

Fair Chance Statement: Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science will consider qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with state and local “Fair Chance” laws.