Research Assistant I

Harvard Medical School - Boston, MA

Full-time - Entry Level

Boston, MA

Educational Services

About the position

The Research Assistant I position at Harvard Medical School is situated within a laboratory focused on the development and degeneration of the central nervous system, particularly emphasizing ocular gene therapy. The role involves a variety of responsibilities centered around animal husbandry, specifically the breeding and maintenance of a mouse colony, as well as the injection of viruses into mice and performing dissections on chick embryos. The successful candidate will be integral to the gene therapy project, which aims to address vision impairments through innovative research methodologies. In this role, the individual will manage the breeding and genotyping of mice and rats, ensuring the breeding colony is well-maintained and organized. Additionally, the assistant will conduct assays to evaluate vision following gene therapy interventions for blindness, utilizing techniques such as electroretinogram and OCT imaging to assess the eyes' functionality. The position also entails dissections of eye tissue, which will be processed for gene expression analysis and high-content imaging to quantify photoreceptors. The candidate will be responsible for collecting, processing, organizing, and summarizing project data, and will assist in other experiments as needed. This entry-level position requires oversight from lab members or direct supervision from the Principal Investigator (PI), making it an excellent opportunity for individuals looking to gain hands-on experience in a research environment.

Responsibilities

• Breeding and maintenance of a mouse colony.
• Injection of viruses into mice.
• Dissections of chick embryos.
• Performing small animal surgery.
• Conducting behavioral tests.
• Immunohistochemistry and microscopy tasks.
• Managing animal husbandry for a gene therapy project.
• Genotyping mice and rats.
• Conducting assays of vision using electroretinogram and OCT imaging.
• Dissecting eye tissue for gene expression analysis.
• Processing data for high-content imaging and quantification of photoreceptors.
• Collecting, processing, organizing, and summarizing project data.
• Assisting in other experiments as needed.

Requirements

• College background or equivalent work experience, preferably in a related discipline.
• At least one year of related work experience (relevant coursework may count towards experience).
• Good communication skills and ability to take direction as necessary.
• Self-motivated, reliable, organized, detail-oriented.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in basic molecular biology, tissue culture, and microscopy preferred.
• Experience in small animal surgery, behavioral tests, immunohistochemistry, and microscopy.

Benefits

• Possibility of extension based on work performance and funding.
• Opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a research environment.