Auto req ID 28801BR
Business Title Research Assistant I Lab (Research Technician).
School/Unit Harvard Medical School
Sub-Unit ------------
Location USA - MA - Boston
Job Function Research
Time Status Full-time
Schedule Monday through Friday; 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Department Genetics
Salary Grade 052
Union 55 - Hvd Union Cler & Tech Workers
Duties & Responsibilities The laboratory focuses on understanding the relationships between neural activity, gene expression, and long-term memory consolidation. The position would be ideal for a pre-medical or pre-graduate student with an interest in molecular neurobiology or neurogenetics. The most critical responsibility of this position is to, under specific direction, design and carry out both in vivo and ex vivo experiments geared toward answering the question: How does the genome interpret neural activity. Specifically, the position will mostly require culturing primary cells from mouse brains, maintaining cells in culture, manipulating neural activity using a variety of methods, extracting RNA and DNA, performing quantitative PCR, and generating next generation sequencing libraries. This project will take advantage of recent advances in DNA sequencing, DNA synthesis, and optogenetic techniques in order to understand the quantitative relationship between neural activity and gene expression in neurons. A strong background in molecular biology, neuroscience, cellular biology, and/or genetics is ideal, including at least one year of experience on a lab-based research project, either as an undergraduate thesis or post-graduate work. Additional research experience is preferred, and a commitment of at least two years is preferred. After-hours or weekend time will occasionally be required. For more information regarding research in the Gray lab, please see: http://genetics.med.Harvard.edu/gray/
Basic Qualifications College background and at least one year of laboratory experience is required.
Additional Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in biology, biological sciences, genetics, or physical sciences preferred. Laboratory experience in genetics, molecular biology, or neurobiology is ideal. Particularly relevant laboratory experience would include: (i) construction of genomic libraries for large-scale DNA sequencing; (ii) real-time PCR; (iii) DNA extraction and analysis; (iv) molecular cloning; and (v) brain dissection, surgery, and sectioning, (vi) electrophysiology, (vii) in situ hybridization, (viii) immunohistochemistry, (ix) mouse colony maintenance. Familiarity with advanced laboratory techniques and principles of molecular biology is desired. Additional qualifications include: excellent written and oral communication abilities; computer proficiency; and, strong organizational skills, including the ability to multi-task and the ability to work in teams in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. Comfort working with mice is required.
Additional Information This is a 2 year term position.

Offer contingent upon successful completion of a pre-placement medical evaluation.
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