Research Associate

About the role

Our Commitment: Texas A&M University is committed to enriching the learning and working environment by promoting a culture that respects all perspectives, talents & lived experiences. Embracing varying opinions and perspectives strengthens our core values which are: Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Selfless Service.

Who We Are: As one of the fastest-growing academic health centers in the nation, Texas A&M Health encompasses five colleges and numerous centers and institutes working together to improve health through transformative education, innovative research and team-based health care delivery.

Responsibilities

• Conduct and coordinate experiments related to human pluripotent stem cell-derived airway and alveolar epithelial differentiation and lung disease modeling.
• Maintain hPSC and differentiated lung epithelial cultures, perform airway basal cell ALI differentiation and maintenance, flow cytometry, immunostaining, microscopy, qPCR, and other molecular and cellular assays.
• Assist with animal xenograft model experiments in accordance with approved protocols.
• Maintain detailed experimental records, organize data, evaluate results, troubleshoot protocols, and assist with laboratory equipment operation and maintenance.
• Analyze, interpret, and summarize experimental results from in vitro differentiation experiments and in vivo xenograft studies.
• Prepare data summaries, figures, and written materials for laboratory meetings and progress reports.
• Assist with sample tracking, reagent inventory, protocol documentation, data management, and coordination of sequencing, histology, imaging, or core facility submissions.
• Support documentation for biosafety, stem cell, and animal research protocols as needed.
• Train and assist students and other laboratory personnel in cell culture, differentiation protocols, laboratory techniques, animal study-related sample processing, data organization, safety procedures, and routine laboratory operations.
• Help establish and maintain standard operating procedures and quality control practices to support reproducible experiments.

Required Education And Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, biomedical sciences, molecular biology, cell biology, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Two years of related research experience in a biomedical research laboratory.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with airway or lung epithelial biology, ALI culture, immunofluorescence staining, microscopy, qPCR, single-cell sequencing sample preparation, and/or animal model support.
• Prior experience in a stem cell and developmental biology, epithelial biology, or lung disease research laboratory is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Experience with human pluripotent stem cell maintenance and directed differentiation, flow cytometry, and standard molecular or cell biology techniques.
• Knowledge of mammalian cell culture and molecular/cellular biology techniques.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to follow established protocols and troubleshoot experiments.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a research team.
• Ability to maintain accurate and timely laboratory records.
• Ability to analyze, summarize, and communicate research results.
• Ability to train and support students and other laboratory personnel.
• Familiarity with biosafety practices, sterile technique, data organization, laboratory inventory management, and animal research compliance requirements.
• Ability to assist with animal model-related experimental preparation, monitoring, tissue/sample collection, and downstream analysis under approved protocols.

Benefits

• Medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life and AD&D, flexible spending accounts, and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M contributing to employee health and basic life premiums.
• 12–15 days of annual paid holidays.
• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month.
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.
• Health and Wellness: Free exercise programs and release time.
• Professional Development: All employees have access to free LinkedIn Learning training, webinars, and limited financial support to attend conferences, workshops, and more.
• Educational release time and tuition assistance for completing a degree while a Texas A&M employee.
• Living Well, a program at Texas A&M that has been built by employees, for employees.