Research Assistant, Department of Surgery

Position Summary:

This position will perform the duties of an experienced technical specialist in the research laboratories in the Department of Surgery. This position primarily will involve pre-clinical research laboratory skills and duties, including:

-Preparing animals for anesthesia and surgery, performing the surgeries (vascular cannulations, survival surgery, and organ recovery),
-Monitoring their recovery acutely after surgery and required institutional recordkeeping,
-The position also requires daily monitoring of animals after surgery,
-Delivery of experimental drugs
-Use of common and metabolic laboratory equipment
-Coagulation and platelet function studies
-Performing anatomical, and biochemical analysis, including immunohistochemistry, light and fluorescent microscopy, Western blotting, tissue extractions, analytical biochemistry, immunoassays (ELISA) and data entry and analysis.

Position Goals are as follows:
-Demonstrate skills in surgical procedures from pre-operative OR preparation to post- op follow-up care of the animals
-Demonstrate skills in preparation and analysis of tissue sample analysis
-Demonstrates knowledge and familiarity with all local, state, & federal laws and regulations, and all laboratory regulatory agency requirements.
-Demonstrate initiative and skills in lab organization including management of supplies, ordering reagents, and procuring animals

Core Responsibilities:

Responsibility 1 (_30_%): Demonstrate skills in surgical preparation procedures
Task 1: Prepare OR (sterilize instruments and prepare room) and prep animals for surgery; anesthetize animals. Monitor and adjust anesthesia during surgery.
Task 2: Recover animals after surgery; monitor animals daily post surgery.
Task 3: Administer experimental and clinical agents as detailed and instructed by protocol guidelines. Demonstrate ability and independence in post-operative care management Include a specific task that falls under this responsibility.
Task 4: Draw blood samples and perform blood tests using ELISA kits.

Responsibility 2 (30 %): General Lab operations and management.
Task 1: Order lab supplies and keep track of lab inventory.
Task 2: Maintain lab compliance records; keep IACUC records and represent the lab during inspections.
Task 3: Schedule and coordinate lab surgical activities and maintain lab surgical equipment.
Task 4: Demonstrate initiative and skills in lab organization including management of supplies, ordering reagents, procuring animals and maintain logs and inventory.
Task 5: Demonstrate organizational and problem-solving skills. Serve as a source of guidance and information to other lab staff, students, and residents.

Responsibility 3 (20 %): Research Assistance.
Task 1: Supports faculty researchers and other collaborators in planning research experiments, submissions, IACUC protocols, grant writing, etc.
Task 2: Liaisons with other departments, outside collaborators, and others as needed to ensure success of projects.
Task 3: Support and assist faculty and other research personnel with presentations, journal submissions, and other applicable reporting and publications

Responsibility 4 (20 %): Data management and collection.
Task 1: Data entry into Microsoft Excel and/or other research database systems per institutional and protocol-specific guidelines
Task 2: Practices routine verification of the accuracy of data
Task 3: Familiarity with excel, PowerLab, graphPad, adobe photoshop, powerpoint and word programs.