Mouse Research Assistant II

Responsibilities

• Plan, execute, evaluate, and interpret experimental studies using imagination, initiative, and inventiveness.
• Work closely with Principal Investigators on lung and prostate cancer projects using genetically engineered mouse models, tumor transplantation models, and therapeutic intervention studies.
• Conduct laboratory studies including flow cytometry, tissue culture, growth and drug response assays, transfection, viral infection, nucleic acid extraction, PCR, immunoblotting, immunocytochemistry, and immunohistochemistry.
• Perform animal studies including tumor cell injections, viral delivery, genotyping, drug administration, imaging, necropsy, and tissue preparation for histological and molecular analyses.
• Independently perform animal procedures such as intraperitoneal injections, oral gavage, tracheal intubations, survival surgeries, tissue harvesting, and environmental exposures.
• Maintain, breed, genotype, and manage mouse colonies while performing general husbandry tasks.
• Participate in development, refinement, and adoption of experimental techniques and protocols.
• Assemble, construct, and operate laboratory apparatus and equipment.
• Maintain accurate experimental records and organized documentation.
• Absorb and comply with animal safety standards, protocols, and regulatory requirements.
• Assist with training personnel in animal techniques.
• Collaborate with Principal Investigators and senior research staff on experimental reports, data summaries, and figures.
• Support preparation of materials for presentations, publications, and grant applications.
• Read scientific literature and confer with supervisors on new or modified procedures.
• Monitor laboratory safety standards and maintain hazardous material records.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of laboratory operations.

Qualifications

• Required: Bachelor's Degree in Basic Science.
• Prior extensive hands-on experience with mouse handling, husbandry, genotyping, PCR, and tumor measurement.
• Prior tissue culture experience is a plus.
• One year scientific or experimental research work experience or no experience required with preferred degree.
• Experience working with genetically engineered mouse models of cancer, tumor implantation models, and drug treatment studies is strongly preferred.
• Understanding of cell signaling or lung and prostate cancer is preferred, although animal experience in all areas is welcomed.
• Strong organizational skills, honesty, reliability, independent decision-making, and willingness to learn and adopt new are required.