Description

The Division of Rheumatology is seeking a Research Assistant III. The preferred candidates will have experience working with tissue culture, including maintaining, freezing, and thawing cell cultures, as well as harvesting cells for RNA or protein extraction. Preferred candidates will also have experience with bench work, including PCR, qPCR, Western blots, histologic staining of cells or tissues, and preparing common buffers and solutions. No work with live animals; however, the candidate will work with primary human or animal blood and tissue samples. The role also includes basic laboratory maintenance responsibilities, such as maintaining liquid nitrogen levels in tanks and CO2 levels in incubators.

What we do here changes the world. UTHealth Houston is Texas' resource for healthcare education, innovation, scientific discovery, and excellence in patient care. That's where you come in.

Once you join us you won't want to leave. It's because we reward our team for the excellent service they provide. Our total rewards package includes the benefits you'd expect from a top healthcare organization (benefits, insurance, etc.), plus:

• 100% paid medical premiums for our full-time employees
• Generous time off (holidays, preventative leave day, both vacation and sick time - all of which equates to around 37-38 days per year)
• The longer you stay, the more vacation you'll accrue!
• Longevity Pay (Monthly payments after two years of service)
• Build your future with our awesome retirement/pension plan!

We take care of our employees! As a world-renowned institution, our employees' wellbeing is important to us. We offer work/life services such as...

• Free financial and legal counseling
• Free mental health counseling services
• Gym membership discounts and access to wellness programs
• Other employee discounts including entertainment, car rentals, cell phones, etc.
• Resources for child and elder care
• Plus many more!

Position Summary:

The preferred candidates will have experience working with tissue culture, including maintaining, freezing, and thawing cell cultures, as well as harvesting cells for RNA or protein extraction. Preferred candidates will also have experience with bench work, including PCR, qPCR, Western blots, histologic staining of cells or tissues, and preparing common buffers and solutions. No work with live animals; however, the candidate will work with primary human or animal blood and tissue samples. The role also includes basic laboratory maintenance responsibilities, such as maintaining liquid nitrogen levels in tanks and CO2 levels in incubators.

Position Key Accountabilities:

Plans and implements research experiments according to research protocol. Research activities may include some or all of the following: patient recruiting and screening, traditional laboratory experiments and activities, informatics, field interviewer recruiting, screening, and training and/or animal laboratories.

Makes independent decisions as required, which may impact research team or assigned project.

Maintains accurate and timely records which may include notebooks, records, databases, etc. as needed by the research project.

Assists with identifying type and quality of supplies needed for research project to ensure cost effectiveness and ensure smooth operations.

May monitor laboratory and/or other supplies to ensure sufficient inventory to support research projects.

May maintain clean laboratory equipment and/or work area to ensure a safe and efficient work environment.

Stays abreast of new and updated protocols for research department. Participates in continuing education programs, seminars, and workshops.

May provide guidance and training of laboratory technicians, field interviewers, research subjects, support staff and/or other assistants to ensure efficient, timely and high quality results.

May provide updates to P.I. regarding research progress.

Complies with all governmental and University policies, rules, regulation and codes.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Certification/Skills:

Advanced knowledge of concepts of research field assigned.

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in appropriate field of science or relevant experience in lieu of education.

Minimum Experience:

Two (2) years of related experience in a research or clinical lab environment.
May substitute required experience with equivalent years of education beyond the minimum education requirement.

Physical Requirements:

Exerts up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds frequently and/or a negligible amount constantly to move objects. This position may include work involving potentially hazardous chemical, biological or radioactive agents.

Security Sensitive:
This position is a security-sensitive position pursuant to Texas Education Code §51.215 and Texas Government Code §411.094. To the extent that a position requires the holder to research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Texas Business and Commerce Code §117.001(2), the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure is a minimum qualification to be hired for and to continue to be employed in that position. Personnel in such positions, and similarly situated state contractors, will be routinely reviewed to determine whether things such as criminal history or continuous connections to the government or political apparatus of a foreign adversary might prevent the applicant, employee, or contractor from being able to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure. A foreign adversary is a nation listed in 15 C.F.R. §791.4.
Residency Requirement:

Employees must permanently reside and work in the State of Texas.