• Job Type: Support Staff - Non-Union
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Building: Jerome L. Greene Science Center
• Salary Range: $42,600 - $50,000

Position Summary

Columbia University's Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute brings together world-class scientists across academic disciplines conducting pioneering research to transform our understanding of how the brain works - and gives rise to mind and behavior. The Institute fosters a collaborative and inclusive environment across 50+ labs, advancing insights into human health by exploring how the brain develops, performs, endures, and recovers.

At the Zuckerman Institute, we are committed to becoming a more inclusive, equitable, and diverse place of scientific discovery and supporting a culture of respect. Promoting diversity in science will that can change the world.

Situated in the Jerome L. Greene Science Center on Columbia's Manhattanville campus, the state-of-the-art building offers an environment where the highest level of scholarly scientific research takes place on a daily basis, with the benefit of being located in the heart of New York, one of the world's most vibrant and culturally rich cities.

The laboratory of at the Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute is looking for a highly motivated Research Staff Assistant with an interest in the mechanisms underlying signal processing and information transfer in sensory systems to work in an exciting and innovative research environment. The candidate will work closely with a postdoctoral fellow on ongoing experiments using cutting-edge molecular, genetic, functional imaging, and behavioral methodologies to understand how neural circuits of the gut-brain axis inform the brain of the state of body tissues, organs, and physiology. This is an excellent opportunity for an enthusiastic, self-motivated professional looking to stay within the lab for at least 2 years before moving on to their next opportunity or graduate school/medical school. Strong candidates will be organized, responsible, and teamwork-oriented individuals who would enjoy working collaboratively with graduate students, postdocs, other technicians, and the laboratory staff in support of research goals.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Under the direction of a Postdoctoral Fellow, perform the following biological techniques: stereotaxic manipulations, mouse survival surgery, use of various viral and nonviral systems to introduce genes into tissues and neurons, including experiments with chemogenomics and optogenetics.
• Under the direction of a Postdoctoral Fellow, perform behavioral, genetic, and physiological experiments with various mouse strains; use antibodies, RNA probes, and the techniques of molecular biology to label and isolate genes of interest. May assist in the creation and verification of genetically engineered mouse lines.
• Under the direction of a Postdoctoral Fellow, assist with mouse husbandry, genotyping, optimizing usage of each line, and characterizing lines.
• Ordering lab supplies and maintaining inventories of chemicals and reagents for experimental procedures.

Minimum Qualifications

A bachelor's degree in a scientific discipline is required or experience equivalent required.

Preferred Qualifications

2 years of experience or more is preferred. Prior experience with standard biological techniques (immunostaining, in-situ hybridization, PCR, and gel electrophoresis) is preferred. Prior experience handling and using rodent models is preferred. Knowledge of programming languages such as Python or MATLAB would be a plus.

The ideal candidate must be capable of troubleshooting and working through issues independently. They must be flexible in navigating experimental challenges and be patient and enthusiastic about learning and implementing new methodologies. It is also essential that they possess strong organizational skills, keep excellent notes, and be good with communication.