The laboratory of Dr. Carol Mason at the Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute has an open position for a highly motivated Research Staff Assistant to assist in working in a cutting-edge neuroscience laboratory. The Research Staff Assistant will assist with analyses of normal and perturbed eye development in developing (embryonic and postnatal) mice. Relevant skills encompass molecular biology, histology, gene perturbation, and microscopy, and responsibilities include lab management and mouse colony maintenance.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Lab management: Working in collaboration with the other lab members, including the Dodd lab, the Research Staff Assistant is responsible for maintaining supplies of common solutions and inventory control; overseeing lab equipment, and ensuring safety measures and institutional compliance.

• Responsible for ordering supplies on Quartzy and from other vendors; reconciling purchases on Pcard and other purchase orders.

• Animal husbandry: Serving as primary liaison between the lab and veterinary staff in supporting the mouse colony. Colony maintenance involves ordering, record-keeping, genotyping, and breeding.

• Oversee annual renewal of animal protocols and occasional modifications.

• Experimental Support: Assisting in experiments as required, potentially involving surgical procedures, histology, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, microscopy, and computer-assisted analysis; RNA sequencing and tissue culture.

• Analysis and interpretation of experimental data; preparation of data and images for publication.

• Training and oversight of undergraduate, summer, and visiting students, in general lab techniques and specific experimental approaches and their quantification and interpretation.

• Reporting: Attendance and presentation at lab meetings and direct reporting to PI.

• Additional duties as assigned by Principal Investigator

Minimum Qualifications

The successful candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree in a scientific or engineering field with a basic understanding of biology. Two years of related research experience.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.