Position Summary
Dr. Harini Iyer’s lab in the Department of Biosciences is looking to hire a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the field of Biochemistry and Cell Biology.
Members of the Iyer laboratory seek to illuminate the complex interplay between the nervous and immune systems during development, homeostasis, and neurodegeneration from the perspective of microglia. We use the vertebrate model organism, zebrafish, widely appreciated for its amenability to live imaging and functional genomic screens, to tackle some exciting questions in the field of neuroimmunology, including: How are signals of extracellular stress transduced to microglia in vivo? Can we gain a deeper understanding of the biology of microglia by defining the functions of neurodegeneration-associated genes? Are there conserved neuroimmune signatures between pediatric and adult neurological conditions? Collectively, we are a group of curiosity-driven developmental biologists and cell biologists with a shared goal of uncovering fundamental processes in neuroimmunology, thus revealing strategies to prevent or cure neurodegenerative diseases.
The ideal candidate will have prior experience in animal husbandry and tissue culture and have a comprehensive understanding of the basic concepts in molecular biology, genetics, and neuroscience.
Workplace Requirements:
This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in-person in Houston, Texas. Per Ricepolicy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.
*Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.
This position is funded by a grant, soft and/or restricted funds. Continued employment is contingent on the renewal of funding.
Essential Functions
Assists in designing CRISPRs targeting genes associated with neurological disorders, generates CRISPR-Cas9 mutants in zebrafish, and maintains fish lines
Assists with performing molecular biology experiments such as PCR assays, isolation and purification of DNA/RNA, and cloning of transgenes
Documents, analyzes, and maintains research data
Assists with proposal development to obtain research funding
Mentors, oversees, and/or trains junior research team members
Publishes and presents research findings
Supports project management and collaboration across institutions or disciplines
Designs and implements research protocols; adapts new procedures, methods or instrumentation relative to research procedures
Performs all other duties as assigned
Required Qualifications
Ph.D in Life Sciences or related field
Skills
Knowledge of tissue culture
Experience with animal husbandry and maintenance
Expertise in molecular biology and genetics (for e.g. CRISPR technology, cloning, DNA sequencing, etc.)
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, as well as oral presentation skills
Organization and time management skills
Knowledge of modern research methods, data collection, and analyses
Knowledge of the principles and techniques of Biochemistry and Cell Biology
Ability to write scholarly papers based on ongoing research in order to submit them to journals for publication
Able to work in a collaborative environment
Able to work independently and professionally with minimal supervision and direction
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