Research Assistant I- Ferguson Lab

Position Summary/ Department Summary:
The Ferguson laboratory (https://pinphd.hms.harvard.edu/people/brielle-ferguson) studies how circuits in the brain support attention and how activity within those circuits change in mice with genetic mutations linked to neurodevelopmental and neurological disorders. The research is quantitative, employs electrophysiological and optical techniques, and encompasses steps from cellular mechanisms to behavioral outputs. Assistance is sought for tasks that are essential for the research program. The hope is that the research assistant will manage these tasks effectively and become an active participant in the laboratory's scientific thinking and experimentation. Highly motivated individuals will have the opportunity to conduct independent research and become versed in the scientific field. We expect that these pursuits will provide excellent preparation for advanced study in the biological sciences.

This Research Assistant I will be responsible for certain core duties:

• Establishing and maintaining a colony of transgenic animals.
• Performing animal surgeries.
• Collecting tissues for research both on and off site.
• Assisting members of the laboratory in data collection and analysis.
• Tracking/organizing supplies, placing orders, and monitoring expenditures.
• Keeping the laboratory generally well-maintained and organized.
• Ensuring compliance with institutional guidelines in health, safety, and animal regulations.

Minimum Qualifications
Education:
Bachelor's Degree required. Coursework in the biological sciences, particularly neurobiology is strongly preferred.