"Research Associate III"

Position Summary

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey is seeking a Research Associate III for the Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine (CABM) within Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS).

The primary purpose of the Research Associate III is to contribute to research exploring hormone-driven interactions between the gut, brain, and body. The position involves performing technical research activities and assisting in highly specialized gut-brain studies focused on a microbial-regulated hormone, oxytocin. Projects span intestinal physiology, microbiome research, neuroscience, and psychology, aiming to understand the role of gut-derived oxytocin, its relationship to brain oxytocin, and microbial regulation of this hormone. These questions are addressed using mouse models, organoid systems, and ex vivo tissue preparations. Responsibilities include conducting experiments in mice and cell cultures, maintaining mouse colonies and tissue culture environments, and supporting specialized research projects. The Research Associate III will also contribute to lab organization, equipment and supply ordering, and serve as an active member of a collaborative research team.

Among the key duties of this position are the following:

• As directed, performs various research and technical operations relative to ongoing investigatory activities of the laboratory; assists in conducting specialized research for a particular phase of ongoing projects related to gut-brain research.
• Performs intestinal damage experiments and associated molecular biology assays in mice and cell culture to pursue the role of gut oxytocin in intestinal damage and repair.
• Conducts mouse behavioral experiments to evaluate the role of gut oxytocin in social and stress-related behaviors. Maintains the mouse colony and performs mouse husbandry, ear punching, and PCR-based genotyping.
• Develops and performs intestinal hormone secretion assays in tissue culture cell lines.
• In collaboration with the Mass-Spec Core, contributes to the development of a mass-spec method for measuring oxytocin.
• Assists in the conducting of a continuous program of research and development regarding the analytical and instrumentation functions of the laboratory.
• Serves as an active member of the lab by attending meetings, regularly presenting research findings and journal papers, and participating in the evaluation of the existing procedures, suggesting revisions where necessary and proposing new procedures where required.
• Maintains lab organization of space, supplies, and equipment.

Minimum Education and Experience

• Master's Degree in Biomedical Science, Molecular, Cell Biology, Neuroscience, or a relevant science plus one (1) year of related research experience, or a Bachelor's Degree in Biomedical Science, Molecular, Cell Biology, Neuroscience, or a relevant science plus two (2) years of related research experience.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Standing, sitting, walking, talking, seeing, and hearing. Manual dexterity and vision sufficient for standard laboratory operations and computer data entry and analysis. Lifting up to 25 lbs.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Lab and animal facility environment. Universal precautions are mandatory.