Senior Research Associate
About the role
The Shapiro Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology seeks a Senior Research Associate to join our team. The successful candidate will contribute to multiple rodent in vivo projects by performing surgeries, supporting molecular biology experiments, and maintaining laboratory operations.
Responsibilities
- Manage the laboratory’s colony of experimental mice, including animal counts, transfers, and orders.
- Coordinate animal experiment needs with lab members and ensure an appropriate supply.
- Maintain and organize lab supplies and shipments.
- Manage CBIC waste streams and submit service tickets for hazardous waste pickup.
- Affiliate with the Office of Laboratory Animal Resources.
- Perform independent mouse surgeries for multiple projects. Experience in stereotaxic surgery and cranial window implantation preferred.
- Perform injections: SC, IP, IC, tail vein, retroorbital.
- Perform mammalian cell culture experiments, including vector packaging and/or T-cell/neuron harvest.
- Post-surgery monitoring.
- Keep detailed record of controlled substance use.
- Prepare tissue samples and perform fluorescence immunohistochemistry (IHC) and imaging using confocal microscopy.
- Additional responsibilities as assigned.
Requirements
- Master’s degree in Biology, Bioengineering, Neuroscience, Biochemistry or a related field, or equivalent research experience.
- Minimum 2 years hands-on in vivo experience working with laboratory mice in a biological or biomedical research laboratory.
- Strong organizational and record-keeping skills.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced research setting.
- Working knowledge of IACUC guidelines, laboratory safety practices, and chemical handling procedures.
- Strong commitment to animal welfare with professionalism, compassion, and sound judgment.
- Strong technical troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
- Demonstrated proficiency with tail vein injection, stereotaxic procedures, and cranial implantation.
- Background in genetic engineering, behavioral study, and flow cytometry is a plus.
- Proactive involvement in drafting and amending IACUC protocols.
- Experience with immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence tissue staining.
- Experience with confocal microscopy or confocal imaging analysis.
- Demonstrated independent end-to-end ownership of a research project.
Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Biology, Bioengineering, Neuroscience, Biochemistry or a related field, or equivalent research experience.
- Minimum 2 years hands-on in vivo experience working with laboratory mice in a biological or biomedical research laboratory.
Skills
- Strong organizational and record-keeping skills.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced research setting.
- Working knowledge of IACUC guidelines, laboratory safety practices, and chemical handling procedures.
- Strong commitment to animal welfare with professionalism, compassion, and sound judgment.
- Strong technical troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
- Demonstrated proficiency with tail vein injection, stereotaxic procedures, and cranial implantation.
- Background in genetic engineering, behavioral study, and flow cytometry is a plus.
- Proactive involvement in drafting and amending IACUC protocols.
- Experience with immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence tissue staining.
- Experience with confocal microscopy or confocal imaging analysis.
- Demonstrated independent end-to-end ownership of a research project.
Benefits
Caltech provides comprehensive benefits to eligible employees and their eligible dependents, including competitive compensation, health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings plans, generous paid time off, tuition reimbursement, and more. Non-benefit eligible employees also have access to some benefits such as onsite counseling and sick time.
Pay
The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training.