Senior Research Assistant - In Vivo Biology

The Allen Discovery Center is dedicated to the advancement of basic biology and biomedicine, using an integrated approach to control biological structure and function. Through molecular genetics, biophysics, and computational approaches, researchers work toward multi-level control of patterning. Novel technology is being developed to modulate bioelectric communication that enables cells to coordinate activities toward specific anatomical and functional outcomes. Applications include repair of birth defects, regenerative medicine, cancer reprogramming, and synthetic biology.

About the role

This is a one-year limited term position subject to renewal based on performance and continued funding. It is grant funded and not eligible for severance pay. The Senior Research Assistant supports research activities within the Levin Lab by independently conducting specialized laboratory experiments and procedures in support of funded research projects. Working under the general direction of the Principal Investigator and senior scientific staff, this role requires a high degree of technical expertise and independent judgment in planning and executing experiments. The Senior Research Assistant contributes to the development and optimization of research techniques and protocols, analyzes and interprets experimental data, maintains accurate laboratory records, and assists in the preparation of publications, presentations, and research reports. The position may provide training and guidance to junior laboratory personnel and students and supports day-to-day laboratory operations, including equipment maintenance, inventory management, and compliance with laboratory safety requirements.

Responsibilities

• Animal husbandry and experimental procedures
  • Maintain mouse breeding colonies and accurate husbandry, genotyping, treatment, and study records.
  • Perform approved procedures such as intravenous, intraperitoneal, and subcutaneous injections; microsurgery support; monitor animals; coordinate timed collections.
  • Assist with Xenopus husbandry and experimental workflows as trained.
• Molecular, histological, and staining workflows
  • Perform accurate micropipetting, solution preparation, tissue collection, fixation, embedding/sectioning support, immunostaining, and in situ hybridization.
  • Follow and optimize established protocols while maintaining controls and documentation required for reproducibility.
• Cell culture and sample preparation
  • Maintain mammalian or amphibian cell and tissue cultures as needed, including media preparation, feeding, passaging, treatment, and cryopreservation.
  • Prepare samples for sequencing, imaging, biochemical assays, and collaborator transfer.
• Experimental records, data collection, and analysis
  • Maintain complete electronic and written laboratory records, sample inventories, and chain-of-custody documentation.
  • Acquire images and measurements, perform basic quantitative analysis, and summarize results for the project team.
• Laboratory operations and supplies
  • Maintain equipment, shared workspaces, reagents, and safety documentation.
  • Track inventory, place supply requests, prepare stock solutions and media, and help ensure continuity of ongoing experiments.

Requirements

• Master’s Degree.
• 5 years of progressively responsible experience in a related field of research.
• Strong organizational, communication, and data management skills.
• Experience with:
  • Mouse anatomy, mouse colony management, and Xenopus husbandry.
  • Genotyping.
  • IV/IP/SC injections.
  • Microsurgery support.
  • Molecular wetlab techniques including accurate pipetting, PCR, qPCR, in-situ hybridization.
  • Confocal or fluorescence imaging and image-analysis software.
  • GraphPad Prism.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing and directing in vivo research studies and laboratory operations.
• R or Python experience.
• Experience with wound healing or limb-regeneration models.
• Experience with immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, or ELISA, including basic understanding of antibody staining and measuring cellular expression of proteins in tissue sections.
• Experience training junior personnel or maintaining shared laboratory systems.

Pay

Pay range: Minimum $67,200.00, Midpoint $83,900.00, Maximum $100,700.00. Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity; generally, new hires can expect pay between the minimum and midpoint of the range.