Research Assistant 2

Department Overview

The Brenden-Colson Center for Pancreatic Care (BCCPC) is developing new detection methods and treatments for cancer.  One way to do that is to is to create pre-clinical animal models that can be manipulated and tested.  The purpose of this position is to assist in developing mouse models of pancreatic cancer and assess drug responses in those models.  This includes mouse colony management and husbandry, tissue dissection, and genotyping. 

As a BCCPC team member, you will work in the lab to identify in vivo drug-response metrics that best predict drug responses in patients, helping to inform clinical care.  You will be trained in growing primary cultures of tumor cells using advanced cell biology lab techniques, automated therapeutic screens, and histology techniques, as well as performing quantitative analysis of images, harvesting and processing mouse tissues, assisting in survival mouse surgeries, data entry/collection and laboratory housekeeping.  You will be responsible for conducting some phases of projects independently and may help to design experiments.

Do you have strong organizational and communication skills and the ability to work under minimal supervision?  Have you had experience with cell biology laboratory techniques?  Then consider joining Oregon’s pancreas research headquarters on the South Waterfront to start building your future in the biomedical sciences.  (Please note:  this position is NOT eligible for remote work.)

Function/Duties of Position

• Maintain mouse colonies: breeding, animal husbandry and mouse colony management.  Perform animal procedures including injections, health checks, tumor or other measurements, administering drug by mouth, injections, surgery, tissue harvest, and tissue preparation following necropsy.
• Perform in vivo experiments including cell culture, genotyping, immunohistochemical sample preparation and processing, cell isolation and DNA/RNA purification, flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, and other biochemistry assays.  Perform preliminary interpretation of results to determine whether they are consistent with experimental goals.
• Collect, record, organize and verify the accuracy of data, keeping detailed and accurate laboratory records; tabulate data, perform calculations, prepare charts, graphs and reports. May assist with preparation of figures, tables and reports for publications and grants.
• Assist in the daily operation of the lab including hazardous waste disposal, sterilization of equipment, cleaning glassware, general servicing of equipment and ordering lab supplies, and preparation of media and buffers.
• Assist in design of research experiments and troubleshooting; attend lab meetings and present data; attend group meetings and seminars as relevant
• Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in relevant field OR
• Associate's Degree AND
• 3 years of relevant experience OR
• 4 years of relevant experience OR
• Equivalent combination of training and experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Bioscience, in-lab training
• Animal handling
• Computer skills; strong organizational abilities; excellent communication skills; strong data management skills; exceptional attention to detail; ability to multitask; ability to follow direction; must be able to work in a BSL-2 

Additional Details

• Work is 40 hours per week, generally during normal working hours, however, some evening and weekend work will be necessary on occasion.  Additional safety training will be required for working with mice/cell lines/patient samples/ infectious bacteria or viruses and working within a BSL-2 environment.  Animal handling is required.
• Personnel will need to work at lab benches or desks for up to 8 hours in a day and 2 hours at a time. Ability to perform repetitive lab manipulations (gripping, grasping, reaching, twisting, computer data entry), move lab equipment under 25 lbs with accommodation. These functions can be very repetitive.  Personal protective equipment must be worn as required (gloves, mask/respirator, eyewear, lab coat, etc.).  Ability to ride the aerial tram and walk long distances across campus.  Ability to handle physical tissue/blood specimens including use of dry ice, liquid nitrogen storage, carrying packages for shipment.

Why apply to OHSU?