Senior Research Assistant - Thoracic Head & Neck Medical Oncology

Senior Research Assistant - Thoracic Head & Neck Medical Oncology

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center is to eliminate cancer in Texas, the nation, and the world through outstanding programs that integrate patient care, research and prevention, and through education for undergraduate and graduate students, trainees, professionals, employees and the public.

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston is one of the world's most respected centers focused on cancer patient care, research, education, and prevention.

It was named the nation's No. 1 hospital for cancer care in News & World Report's 2022-2023 rankings. It is one of the nation's original three comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute.

JOB SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES

To maintain & manage a functional laboratory :

• Supervises the use of laboratory equipment and implements safety procedures. Monitors use of shared equipment.
• Supervises laboratory personnel safety procedures according to MDACC and Environmental Health and Safety procedures.
• Attends annual safety courses required by MDA and other agencies. Handles, stores, and disposes of radioactive isotopes, chemically hazardous materials, and biohazardous materials in procedure specified to meet MDA safety guidelines.
• Follows manufacturer's guidelines regarding the handling and maintenance of all lab equipment. Will have working knowledge of equipment operation manuals and procedure manuals whenever necessary.
• Prepares weekly orders and budgets to provide to the Principal Investigator.
• Will be responsible for IBC and ACUF registrations while maintaining up-to-date active compliant protocols.
• Will be responsible for overall laboratory safety to pass yearly laboratory safety inspection by MDACC Environmental Health and Safety.
• Attends monthly lab manager meetings and maintains assigned departmental equipment, staff trainings, and coordinates repairs / calibrations.
• Responsible for ordering reagents and materials.
• Monitor work flow as it pertains to the need for supplies, equipment maintenance, and preparing stock solutions.
• Develop, record, and maintain a central repository of plasmids, bacteria, and adenovirus, using stocks developed by each lab member.

To design, organize and perform laboratory and research procedures.

• Learn ongoing techniques in the laboratory and become proficient in planning, executing, and troubleshooting these techniques.
• Participate in adopting new techniques and learning new skills to enhance lab research efforts.
• Organizes, coordinates and participates in scientific research projects under the direction of a professional staff member.
• Functions in a separate and independent manner in the design and initiation of research experiments.
• Designs, develops, or adapts equipment used in experiments or research to obtain desired results.
• Determines specific goals or objectives to be obtained, evaluates research data and develops and revises techniques or approaches to work problems.
• Maintain assertiveness and flexibility in approaching new techniques and responsibilities, utilizing good work habits and time management.
• Maintain alertness and careful attention to avoid injury to self and others due to chemicals and hazardous materials in the laboratory.

Mouse studies :

Will carry out experiments involving animals and animal or human tissues, in accord with appropriate institutional and regulatory guidelines.

• Will have knowledge of safety concerns when working with animal / human tissues.
• Work on animal tissues will require application of universal safety precautions at all times.
• Designs, organizes and performs animal work and protocols.
• Performs tumor measurement and randomization to treatments in a standardized manner.
• Performs animal surgery.
• Performs tumor cell injection in the subcutaneous tissue of mice.
• Performs animal drug treatment studies.
• Isolate DNA, RNA, and protein from animal tissues.
• Collect blood, serum and tissue samples (tumors, lungs, spleen and lymph nodes) from animals.
• Maintains animal colonies, including overseeing breeding, genotyping, and record keeping for all animal strains.

Tissue culture :

• Maintains and establishes culture of human and murine cells, which require rigorous sterile techniques. Must have the ability to observe and identify cell changes under the microscope, determine cell counts and cell viability.
• Prepares sterile media and solutions. Purify cells by various methods and monitor cells for proliferation and activation by standard laboratory methods.
• Monitors, orders and shelves tissue culture supplies to ensure efficient functioning.
• Prepare cells for cryogenic storage.
• The above requires using the microscope for prolonged periods, working for prolonged periods with hands extended under a flow hood and lifting cases (

Molecular and Cellular Biology :

• Technical and theoretical experience in the following is preferred :
• RNA / DNA and protein isolation from human / murine cells and tissues, PCR and analysis.

Immunoassays :

• Flow cytometry
• Tissue dissociation for flow cytometry application and analysis of immune cell populations
• ELISA / ELISpot
• Cell culture
• T cell expansion
• Cytotoxicity assays

To work with Human Products :

• Carry out experiments involving human tissues, in accord with appropriate institutional and regulatory guidelines.
• Have knowledge of safety concerns when working with human tissues.
• Organize human sample distribution and keep a log of human sample utilization collected under multiple clinical protocols.

To maintain good, detailed experimental records and evaluate resulting research data :

Maintain an up-to-date, organized, and legible laboratory journal that records all experiments in detail and ensure that subordinates do the same.

Maintains accurate, detailed records and experimental data and protocols.

• Keeps accurate records / logs of clinical or research materials from patients and animal studies.
• Utilize image analysis system (including but not limited to Graphpad Prism, Excel, Image J etc.) and / or microscope to analyze data and examine results.
• Compile, write, and submit project results to supervisor.
• Communicates results to and understands instructions from principal investigator and colleagues. Fluent spoken English is essential.
• Discusses goals of each project with supervisor. Develops a step-by-step written procedure outlining the specific actions required to conduct the experiment before proceeding.
• Reads literature and confers with supervisor regarding new procedures and modifies them according to the needs of the project.

To assist with dissemination of results and analyses.

• Present findings of the research project to professional groups
• Prepare scientific data and documents for publication

To work closely with other staff members.

• Maintain good working relationship with other researchers and technicians
• Train and supervise new technicians and other laboratory personnel in proper laboratory techniques, the use of laboratory equipment, and safety procedures
• Assist other lab members with ongoing experiments that have a priority designated by the Principal Investigator.
• Demonstrate the ability to clearly communicate (verbally and in writing) instructions, ideas, and procedures.

Other duties as assigned.

Education Required - Bachelor's degree in one of the natural sciences or related field.

Experience Required - Three years of experience in scientific or experimental research work. With preferred degree, one year of required experience

It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity / expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law.