Research Assistant I-F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center: Do Lab - Boston Children's Hospital

*** A cover letter is required at point of application***
Our laboratory studies how the nervous system senses the external world. Our research combines approaches from neuroscience and biophysics, and studies steps from molecular mechanisms to behavior.
We seek a Research Assistant who will participate actively in the laboratory's scientific thinking and research, in addition to aiding with routine tasks. Laboratory members will provide all required training.
This Research Assistant I will be responsible for: 

• Performing animal surgeries.
• Collecting tissues for research both on and off site.
• Helping to maintain a colony of transgenic animals.
• Assisting members of the laboratory in research using both routine and specialized techniques.
• Tracking/organizing supplies, placing orders, and monitoring expenditures.
• Keeping the laboratory generally well-maintained and organized.
• Ensuring compliance with institutional guidelines in health, safety, and animal regulations.
• Learning, deeply, the concepts underlying experiments in the laboratory.
• Analyzing data.
• Designing, constructing, and operating custom laboratory equipment.
• Taking on independent research.
• According to prescribed protocols and assigned schedules, performs a variety of routine laboratory experiments and procedures, utilizing standard laboratory equipment, recording and checking results for completeness and accuracy.
• Assists in troubleshooting procedures if experimental results are unexpected or quality of specimens is poor.
• Performs the following techniques typically required for the laboratory/study:
  • Maintains records of results and methodologies in a log of work performed.Maintains equipment, lab area, and supplies in a neat professional manner.
  • Sterilize and clean glassware, and prepare media and other materials using appropriate procedures.
  • Inventories supplies, alerts supervisor to needed supplies, or mixes standard reagents.
  • Processes orders for supplies and/or animals.
  • Attends courses in safety procedures for handling, storage, and disposal of biohazardous, flammable, corrosive, and toxic materials.
  • Carries out all laboratory activities in compliance with applicable regulations and protocols.
• Conducts literature searches and reviews, compiling information for journals and suggesting uses for new techniques to the P.I.
• Attends courses, lectures, and conferences to further own knowledge of research and laboratory techniques, consulting with other researchers and technicians to exchange information.
• Contributes to the team within and between departments and organizations.

In order to qualify, you must have:

• B.A./B.S. degree, preferably with a GPA of >3.5, with deep coursework in the biological sciences, particularly neurobiology. Additional experience in physics, chemistry, and/or computer science is preferred.
• Extensive laboratory research experience, ideally involving animal models.
• Willingness to work with animals and human tissues.
• Strong drive, conscientiousness, organizational skills, and work ethic.
• Ability to meticulously follow complex protocols and troubleshoot if necessary.
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team.
• Willingness to commit to two years.