Senior Lab Research Assistant

About the role

The Sonoda Lab in the Department of Biology at the University of Virginia’s College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences is seeking applications for a full-time Senior Lab Research Assistant. The Sonoda Lab studies information processing and plasticity in the rodent visual system using a combination of optogenetics, electrophysiology, imaging, and behavioral assays. The position will play an important role in supporting the launch and day-to-day operation of a new research laboratory. This position will include both general laboratory support and hands-on involvement in research projects examining how visual information is processed by neural circuits in the retina, thalamus, and cortex. More information about the lab can be found at www.sonodalab.com.

Responsibilities

• Assist with ordering, inventory, and basic budget tracking
• Support mouse colony management
• Assist with animal procedures, including microinjections into the mouse eye and brain
• Assist with in vivo electrophysiological recordings
• Support lab members with data collection, organization, and analysis

Minimum Requirements

• Education: Associate's degree required; may accept equivalent combination of experience, education, certification in lieu of degree.
• Experience: 2+ years of lab experience which may include student experience.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Excellent organizational and communication skills
• Background in neuroscience, psychology, biomedical engineering, or related field
• Basic laboratory experience, strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to follow established protocols and maintain accurate records
• Prior experience working with rodents, neuroscience techniques, electrophysiology, imaging, behavioral assays, programming, or data analysis would be beneficial but is not required
• Experience with functional measurements of nervous system function (i.e. electrophysiology, imaging, behavior)

The ideal candidate should be comfortable balancing multiple responsibilities and working both independently and collaboratively.

Pay

Anticipated Hiring Range: $18.56 to $23.20/hour ($38,604.80 - $48,256 annually), commensurate with education and experience.

Physical Demands

This position can spend extensive periods of time standing and squatting while conducting experiments or caring for animals. Also requires keyboarding and other bench work and animal procedures requiring finer finger manipulation.

Position Type & Work Location

This is a full-time non-exempt benefited position based in Charlottesville, VA, and must be performed fully on-site.