Research Assistant (Animal Physiology Core) (Finance)

Overview

Under direct supervision, the Research Assistant (Animal Physiology Core) coordinates and conducts the services for the Animal Physiology Core. The Core focuses on performing physiological evaluations of metabolism and behavior in rodent models for the research of diabetes, obesity and associated complications.

As a health care organization, we have the responsibility to do everything in our power to care for and protect our patients, our colleagues and our communities. We require that all staff be vaccinated against influenza (flu) and COVID-19 as a condition of employment.

Responsibilities

• Assists in the management of the online service schedule: schedules services, tracks service progress and fulfills orders completed by the Core. Interacts with the Core Administrator to complete chargebacks for rendered services.
• Acts as liaison between the Animal Physiology core, Joslin laboratories, and external user laboratories.
• Coordinates, ships and receives exported and imported animals to and from external users.
• Assists investigators to design experiments by optimizing the services they need for the experiment and suggesting appropriate options for the experiment.
• Performs research procedures on mice including but not limited to metabolic testing, behavioral analysis, body mass composition, blood pressure monitoring and telemetry.
• Records and analyzes data from procedures and generates reports for investigators. Help investigators analyze data generated by the Core lab by providing the raw data from each procedure. Generates data from quality control tests and manufacturers specification for comparison to historical results.
• Perform animal care necessary to studies, including providing food and water to the animals.
• Troubleshoots and maintains equipment, computer programs and schedules repairs if necessary
• Evaluates equipment for additional new services in response to researcher needs.
• Generates annual usage reports for Core services by investigators.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• BA/BS in biology or related field
• Minimum 1 year of experience in a biology/biomedical science research lab preferred.
• Undergraduate research experience in an independent study lab based project desirable
• Certification by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science is desirable and but will be trained and certified by AALAS if not
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and ability to navigate at a basic level within various web-based applications.
• Comfortable managing computerized data
• Familiarity with basic laboratory instruments and equipment - in a laboratory setting preferred.
• Ability to learn how to analyze physiologic data
• Willingness to work with live mice and handle mouse cages
• Manual dexterity for handling live mice and equipment setup
• Ability to follow general instructions and procedures, as provided.
• Strong organizational and communication skills (communicate clearly and effectively via verbal and written instruction).
• Attention to detail and ability to concentrate on multiple tasks
• Ability to prioritize responsibilities - through completion.
• Ability to work independently and with others in the core - to interact respectfully with other employees, professional staff and/or external contacts