Research Assistant II - Cancer Biology

MD Anderson's Cancer Biology department has a long history of being a leader in the field of basic and translational cancer biology research. The department emphasizes the training of students, postdoctoral fellows and clinical fellows in the fundamentals of tumor biology to improve the outcomes of patients with malignancies. The department has built a program with close ties to many clinical departments to facilitate information exchange between the laboratory and the clinic. As such, faculty in the department are investigators on NIH funded collaborative cancer biology research grants "Specialized Programs of Research Excellence". In addition, there are several physician-scientists who have joint appointments in Cancer Biology, facilitating the exchange of clinically-relevant information between the laboratory and the clinic. The primary purpose of the Research Assistant II is to coordinate and conduct experiments and carry out research projects in varied areas of chemistry, biology, genetics, therapeutics, and other biomedical or related basic science areas. Construct, assemble and operate laboratory apparatus and equipment. Read literature and confer with superiors regarding new procedures and modify them according to the needs of the project. Records and evaluates data obtained in accordance with methods requested. KEY FUNCTIONS Lab and Animal Studies * Exercises considerable imagination, initiative and inventiveness in planning and executing the details of experiments/studies and in evaluating and interpreting the results. * Performing laboratory studies using complex techniques including flow cytometry, tissue culture (maintaining mammalian cells, growth assays, drug response assays, transfection and viral infection), nucleic acid extraction, PCR, immunoblotting, immunocytochemistry and immunohistochemistry. * Performing animal studies including in utero lentiviral injection, grafting, surgeries, genotyping, injecting tumor cells, monitoring and recording progress of experiments, dosing animals with drugs, animal imaging, necropsy, preparation of tissue samples for histological processing. Animals include "nude" and conventional mice. Techniques and Records * Responsible for major participation in the development and revision of techniques, assembles and operates laboratory apparatus and equipment. * Orders and organizes supplies for the laboratory. * Performs regular monitoring of safety standards in the laboratory, maintains records of hazardous materials. Reports and Grants * Collaborates or assists with supervisor and senior research staff with preparation of reports and grant requests. Laboratory Organization and Monitoring * Orders and organizes supplies for the laboratory. * Performs regular monitoring of safety standards in the laboratory, maintains records of hazardous materials Education Required: Bachelor's degree with major course works in one of the basic sciences. Preferred: Master's degree with major course works in one of the basic sciences. Experience Required: Two years experience in scientific or experimental research work. No experience required with preferred degree. It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. http://www.mdanderson.org/about-us/legal-and-policy/legal-statements/eeo-affirmative-action.html Additional Information * Requisition ID: 140904 * Employment Status: Full-Time * Employee Status: Regular * FLSA: exempt and not eligible for overtime pay * Work Week: Days * Fund Type: Soft * Pivotal Position: Yes * Minimum Salary: US Dollar (USD) 36,000 * Midpoint Salary: US Dollar (USD) 44,500 * Maximum Salary : US Dollar (USD) 54,000 * Science Jobs: Yes

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