UNIV - Research Specialist I - Department of Neuroscience

About the role

The C. Schmidt lab at the Neuroscience Department of the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) is seeking a talented, motivated and detail‑oriented research specialist to join its new lab and the Hollings Cancer Center. The role offers a long‑term opportunity to lead research on the early development of the brain and its susceptibility to cancer growth, providing experience in both basic science and translational research. It is suited for those who wish to pursue an advanced degree in biological sciences or medicine. The lab studies the developmental origin of pediatric brain cancers using molecular and stem‑cell biology techniques such as lentiviral or CRISPR/Cas9 genetic editing, RNA/ATAC/CUT&RUN sequencing, human iPS and neural stem cell cultures, human brain organoid cultures, and mouse intracranial injections. Enthusiasm for research and learning new skills is essential. As a new lab, the position also provides exposure to the full process of lab setup and cutting‑edge research in a nurturing environment. Start date: as early as November 2026. Learn more about the lab at https://cschmidtlab.com. Entity: Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC - Univ); Worker Type: Employee; Worker Sub‑Type: Research Grant; Cost Center: CC000984 COM NEURO RES Operations.

Responsibilities

• 30% - Tissue Culture Work – Maintain and use stem cell lines and primary cell cultures for experimental purposes, this includes and is not limited to human iPS cells, neuronal stem cell cultures, human tumor cell lines, standard fibroblast cultures (HEK 293T) and brain organoid cultures. Experimental tissue culture work includes proliferation or cell/death assays, drug treatments, transfections, lentivirus production and viral transductions (BSL2 work). It is also the responsibility of the research specialist to maintain a clean environment in the tissue culture room, upkeep inventory including reagent stocks and aliquots, and oversee equipment maintenance.
• 30% - Wet Lab Procedures – Molecular biology techniques, particularly cloning targeting constructs and CRISPR/Cas9, RNA and protein isolation, qRT-PCR, western blot, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry staining and microscopy, cryosectioning of cryo-frozen tissue blocks, flow cytometry, handling plasmids and bacteria, preparing lab reagents, analyzing data for scientific reports.
• 25% - General Lab Maintenance and Organization – maintain laboratory supplies and consumables, perform routine cleaning of laboratory and tissue culture space, clean glassware and autoclave glassware and plastics, ensure safety and compliance guidelines, introduce new lab members to the lab space and work. Assist the principal investigator in establishing an efficient lab, foster science and training.
• 15% - Animal Husbandry and surgical procedures in mice – carry out intracranial injections of neural stem cells and tumor cells including but not limited to tumor growth studies, therapeutic intervention of tumor growth. Perform bioluminescence imaging