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. It contributes to the Harnessing Plants Initiative’s (HPI) CO2 Removal on a Planetary Scale (CRoPS) program, aiming 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 the research team to prepare technical reports, summaries, protocols, and quantitative analyses
• Performs routine molecular biology tasks including primer design, PCR, qPCR, molecular cloning, DNA/RNA extractions, bacterial transformation, and plasmid DNA extraction
• Assesses the expression of reporter lines via staining, imaging, and/or western blotting
• Records and analyzes all data and observations in an appropriate electronic lab notebook
• 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

Preferred Skills

• Prior experience or internships in a laboratory setting
• Prior experience in 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