About the Opportunity

This position will assist Dr. Ezequiel Salido, an assistant professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. The laboratory is also part of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine at the Health Science Center, WVU.

The research focuses on understanding the neuronal extracellular matrix (ECM), specifically examining how ECM components surrounding photoreceptors in the retina contribute to vision and are implicated in various ocular diseases. Our studies leverage a broad range of experimental approaches, including:

CRISPR-Cas9 animal models featuring mutations in ECM genes linked to human disorders
Immunohistochemistry, Western blot, PCR, Electroretinography (ERG)
In vivo retinal imaging, electron microscopy, super-resolution microscopy
AAV-based gene therapy and multi-omics analyses
Biochemical techniques to study protein interactions and post-translational modifications

For more details about Salido Lab research, please visit our lab webpage (https://salidolab.com/).

The newly hired person will join a team of vision researchers working to uncover the causes of blindness and use that information to develop innovative treatments for vision loss in humans. You will actively participate in the ongoing lab research, providing you with a unique opportunity for growth and learning in the field of vision research.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

37.5-hour work week
13 paid holidays
15 annual leave (vacation) days per year or more based on years of service
18 sick days per year
WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks.
Wellness programs

What You'll Do

ANIMAL COLONY MANAGEMENT & GENOTYPING

Maintain mouse colonies, including weaning, tagging, sex separation, breeding coordination, cage tracking, and animal record updates.
Perform genotyping workflows, including tissue sample preparation, PCR, gel electrophoresis, sequencing preparation, and analysis of results.

SPECIALIZED HISTOLOGICAL & MOLECULAR ASSAYS

Provide support for the experiment to lab members.
Dissection of ocular tissues for experimentation.
Western Blot protein analysis.
Immunohistochemistry on cryosectioned retina and confocal microscopy.
Performing electroretinography analysis on anesthetized mice.

GENERAL DUTIES

Maintain lab organization, including ordering and stocking chemicals and maintaining inventories.
Set up, calibrate, and maintain laboratory equipment.
Troubleshoot equipment issues.
Prepare reagents and assist in experiments as needed.

May assist with specialized experiments, including:

Intraocular injections for gene therapy studies
Electron microscopy / Immunoelectromicroscopy
Super-resolution microscopy (STORM)
Bacteria and human cell culture and protein expression.
Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in mice

Qualifications

Bachelor in life sciences or equivalent.
A minimum of six (6) months experience in a research lab. Relevant experience in biological research laboratory settings.
Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Effective and clear communication of research findings with the team is crucial.
Engage in collaborative and independent work within the research team.
Strong capabilities in verbal and written communication, alongside excellent time management and organizational skills.
Self-motivation is essential for success in this role.
Solid background in general molecular biology techniques, essential for daily laboratory tasks.
Ability to operate general laboratory equipment (i.e., pH meter, scales, pipets, centrifuges, etc.) and the willingness and ability to learn new techniques, procedures, or protocols.
Commitment to continuous learning and skill enhancement, actively seeking training and development opportunities.
Efficient at gathering and analyzing information to identify and resolve problems.
Responsive to management direction, adheres to work schedules, and manages leave responsibly, ensuring consistent productivity and team coherence.