Research Associate

The Lessard Laboratory is seeking an enthusiastic and motivated research associate to work on laboratory studies related to exercise physiology, nutrition, metabolism, and diabetes. The lab is located within the Center for Exercise Medicine Research (CEMR) in the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute (FBRI) in Roanoke Virginia. The successful candidate will work on NIH-funded research projects to determine how exercise training, in combination with dietary and pharmacological therapies, influence health and metabolism. More information on current studies can be found at https://fbri.vtc.vt.edu/research/labs/lessard.html.

The primary responsibilities of this position will be to manage and supervise various experimental protocols including mouse husbandry and physiology, tissue culture systems, and molecular biology assays. The research associate will also spend significant time and effort on general lab maintenance and organization. The successful candidate should be detail oriented and highly organized with excellent communication skills. Additional duties include data management and analysis, and training/supervising new research staff and students. Benefits of this position include gaining high-level research experience, authorship on scientific publications, and working in a collaborative and intellectually stimulating environment. This is an excellent position for candidates with previous research lab management experience who wish to pursue a career in medical research.

• Graduate degree in biology, health sciences, biochemistry, exercise physiology, or another related field
• Demonstrated research and lab management experience
• Experience supervising undergraduate and graduate research students
• Demonstrated organizational skills and attention to detail
• Demonstrated ability and desire to succeed in a fast-paced research environment with multiple concurrent duties
• Excellent communication skills
• Experience working with and handling live mice
• Experience working with tissues and blood samples from animals and humans
• Knowledge and training in biochemistry and molecular biology

• Proficiency in various molecular biology techniques including Western blotting, PCR, and immunofluorescence
• Experience with mouse metabolic testing including glucose tolerance testing, indirect calorimetry, body composition measurement, and exercise testing
• Knowledge and/or experience in exercise physiology, metabolism, or diabetes research

Restricted

Commensurate with experience, starting at $50,000

1/2/2025

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.

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