Research Assistant II - Laboratory of Dr. Julie Law

About the role

This position supports the laboratory of Dr. Julie Law focusing on chromatin and gene regulation. The Harnessing Plants Initiative’s (HPI) CO2 Removal on a Planetary Scale (CRoPS) program aims to develop crop plants with extensive root systems containing recalcitrant carbon polymers to combat climate change.

Responsibilities

• Phenotyping Arabidopsis thaliana lines of interest
• Screens, genotypes, and maintains plant lines
• Designs constructs to assess gene function and expression
• Stains and prepares plant samples for various types of microscopy
• Collaborates with and discusses results with the research team
• Performs routine molecular biology tasks such as primer design, PCR, qPCR, molecular cloning, DNA/RNA extractions, bacterial transformation, and plasmid DNA extraction
• Prepares solutions, reagents, and media plates
• Grows and maintains plant lines
• Organizes plant lines and construct stocks

Requirements

• Minimum 2 years’ experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience required
• Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences or related scientific discipline required
• A minimum of 4 years of experience in a scientific role is required for consideration of a Bachelor's degree in a different discipline
• Computer skills required: Microsoft Office
• Statistical analysis, graphing, and presentation of data
• Other Skills (Preferred): Prior experience or internships in a laboratory setting, prior experience biological research, ideally with Arabidopsis thaliana, demonstrated experience and application of molecular biology knowledge, specifically with plant development and molecular genetics, demonstrated experience with confocal microscopy, plant roots, demonstrated experience in sample preparation: staining, embedding, slicing etc., demonstrated experience with routine molecular biology skills: primer design, PCR, qPCR, molecular cloning, DNA/RNA extractions, bacterial transformation, and plasmid DNA extraction, demonstrated experience in basic coding, Knowledge of relevant regulations and compliance standards

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years’ experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience required
• Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences or related scientific discipline required
• A minimum of 4 years of experience in a scientific role is required for consideration of a Bachelor's degree in a different discipline

Skills

• Prior experience or internships in a laboratory setting
• Prior experience biological research, ideally with Arabidopsis thaliana
• Demonstrated experience and application of molecular biology knowledge, specifically with plant development and molecular genetics
• Demonstrated experience with confocal microscopy, plant roots
• Demonstrated experience in sample preparation: staining, embedding, slicing etc.
• Demonstrated experience with routine molecular biology skills: primer design, PCR, qPCR, molecular cloning, DNA/RNA extractions, bacterial transformation, and plasmid DNA extraction
• Demonstrated experience in basic coding
• Knowledge of relevant regulations and compliance standards

Benefits

• The expected pay range for this position is $21.00 to $25.00 hourly
• Salk Institute provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the institute reasonably expects to pay for a position
• The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location, and external market pay for comparable jobs
• Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, retirement, paid time off, tuition reimbursement, patient advocacy services, and transit/parking program