Research Assistant

Advertising Summary: Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine is a premier academic medical center located in the heart of Richmond. Accounting for almost half of VCU’s sponsored research, the School of Medicine is internationally recognized for patient care and education. Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity employer.

Unit: School Of Medicine MBU

Department: Neuroscience & Anatomy

Department Summary: In the Department of Neuroscience & Anatomy, research is one of our core tenets. With traditions anchored in the anatomical disciplines, our identity has evolved to reside in modern neuroscience, where our dedicated faculty and students engage in state-of-the-art research and scholarly activity with clinical translation potential in conditions ranging from anxiety to epilepsy to Alzheimer’s.

With labs and grant-funded projects led by our full-time department faculty and affiliate faculty in other academic units across VCU, we’re proud to contribute to the field by conducting innovative research the following focus areas: Central Nervous System Circuit Function, Central Nervous System Injury and Repair, Educational scholarship and Practice, Glial Cell Biology, and Molecular Mechanisms of Neuropsychiatric Disorders.

The Research Assistant will support research activities in Dr. Guang-Wei Zhang’s laboratory in the Department of Neuroscience and Anatomy. The position will assist with routine animal breeding, basic laboratory procedures, experimental preparation, data organization, and research record keeping. The position will also support basic data analysis using VS Code and Python-based workflows under the supervision of the PI or designated lab personnel.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Assist with routine animal breeding, colony monitoring, and related documentation
• Support basic biology laboratory procedures and experimental preparation
• Assist the PI and lab members with behavioral, physiological, or other neuroscience experiments as assigned
• Help organize, maintain, and back up experimental data
• Perform basic data analysis using VS Code and Python-based scripts with appropriate supervision and training
• Maintain accurate laboratory records, including animal records, experimental notes, and data files
• Follow laboratory safety procedures, animal care guidelines, and institutional policies
• Perform other research-related duties as assigned by the PI or hiring manager

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Basic biology laboratory training or relevant research experience
• Willingness to work with laboratory animals
• Ability to follow standard operating procedures, safety requirements, and institutional guidelines
• Strong attention to detail and reliability in record keeping
• Ability to work 5 hours per day, approximately 20 days per month

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with animal breeding or mouse colony maintenance
• Experience assisting with laboratory experiments
• Familiarity with VS Code and basic Python coding or data analysis

Salary Range: $13/hr

Benefits: All VCU employee types are eligible for a wide array of benefits to support you during your employment at VCU. Consult the benefits website for information on benefits eligibility according to employee type.

FLSA Exemption Status: Non-Exempt

Hours per Week: 0.5

Flexible Work Arrangement: Fully Onsite

University Job Title: Lab/Research Assistant 1

Contact Information:

Contact Email: SOMHR@vcuhealth.org