Research Specialist (Neurology)

Johns Hopkins, founded in 1876, is America's first research university and home to nine world-class academic divisions working together as one university.

The Research Specialist performs a range of assays and experiments specific to an area of research, requiring a good understanding of the work of the laboratory. Makes contributions to various aspects of research efforts. Performs routine troubleshooting and helps with training and orientation of others working in the laboratory.

The Department of Neurology is seeking a Research Specialist to play an integral role in research studies conducted in the Brain Signs lab in the Dept of Neurology (www.brainsigns.net). The lab conducts translational research involving healthy subjects enrolled in multiple longitudinal studies of aging and Alzheimer’s disease at the Johns Hopkins Alzheimer’ Disease Research Center (ADRC) as well as cross-sectional studies involving patients seen in the Center for Cerebrospinal Fluid Disorders (CSFD). The Research Specialist is primarily responsible for processing specimens collected from subjects in the ADRC cohort as well as patients in the CSFD clinic, in addition to performing assays on different research platforms in the lab on these biospecimens, after rigorous training.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Plan and run experiments after discussion with investigators. Work may include making protocol modifications within the parameters set by investigator.
• Utilize specialized knowledge to interpret results, e.g. read controls, and evaluate results.
• Use scientific knowledge and lab experience to evaluate whether component parts of experiments are working as expected.
• Train/orient learners and new staff in the laboratory.
• Assist in development of new techniques and instruments.
• Become familiar with published research methods related to current experimental work by investigating published protocols and discussing them with more senior laboratory staff and/or faculty investigators.
• Process analyzed data into figures for scientific publications.
• May order equipment and supplies, and interface with vendors.
• May facilitate problem solving for entry-level lab members with research assays.
• May participate in protocol development, efficiency, and productivity.
• May contribute to writing manuscripts and grants by writing methodology sections.
• Other duties as assigned.

In addition to the duties described above

• Process specimens collected from subjects in the ADRC cohort as well as patients in the CSFD clinic.
• Perform assays on different research platforms in the lab on these biospecimens.
• Enter data related to procedures into various databases.
• Enroll participants in the Center for CSF disorders.
• Perform standard maintenance on the various laboratory instruments.
• Maintain inventory and monitor and oversee the maintenance schedules of biospecimen freezers to ensure samples will remain viable for future analyses.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Biology, Chemistry or related field.
• One year of laboratory experience performing relevant techniques.
• Additional education may substitute for required experience and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond a high school diploma/ graduation equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

Preferred Qualifications

Technical Skills & Expected Level of Proficiency

• Data Management and Analysis - Awareness
• Experimental Design and Execution - Awareness
• Literature Review - Awareness
• Operations Management - Awareness
• Protocol Development and Optimization - Awareness
• Scientific Writing - Awareness

The core technical skills listed are most essential; additional technical skills may be required based on specific division or department needs.