Senior Research Assistant (Niewczas lab) at Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, Massachusetts

Job Description:

Overview

The Senior Research Assistant in the Niewczas laboratory under the leadership of Dr. Monika Niewczas, Principal Investigator at Joslin and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, is to assist in the implementation and analysis of individual research projects that will concentrate on the employment of the molecular phenotyping techniques in human studies on diabetes and its complications. Specifically, laboratory activities will mainly include targeted proteomics (ELISA, MSD, Quansys) in biofluid, cell lysates or tissues, sample processing for untargeted -omics (proteomics or metabolomics), biobanking, patient recruitment activities and data analysis. This position requires interaction with research fellows and research assistants within the Research Division at Joslin and with external collaborators.

Full-time and/or part-time positions will be considered.

Please click this link to learn more about Dr. Niewczas and her lab.

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

• The biobanking activities that will include clinical samples retrieval, aliquoting and tracking in the electronic database.


• The development and implementation of assays to measure relevant biomarkers using the ELISA, MSD, flow cytometry, or other molecular phenotyping techniques. This involves sometimes creating complex protocol for atypical sample type (white blood cell subpopulations, single cell experiments).


• Sample collection for the human studies. It may include patient recruitment activities (contacting potential study participants, obtaining medical questionnaire and biological samples).


• In addition, will be teaching and supervising fellows and other members of the lab with regard to implementation of protocols relevant to the study, including the aliquoting procedure, storage, and the running of assays.


• Assessment of the quality of the data and identifying errors and correcting them.


• Analyze data resulting from targeted and untargeted omics data under supervision (beginner, intermediate level proficiency in data handling and analysis in the programmable language).


• Maintenance of computer databases for the results of the laboratory determinations.


• Excellent communication with all members of the lab, such as coordinating work projects and ensuring proper protocol is being followed.


• Mitigate any problems that may arise within the laboratory, including in the assistance of maintaining and preserving the integrity of laboratory equipment by ensuring its proper use, monitoring biohazardous materials usage, handling, and disposal.


• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Biology or a closely related field or MS.


• Minimum 1-2 year of demonstrated research experience from academic coursework or industry.


• Relevant experience with laboratory methods and/or data analyses preferred.


• Attention to detail and ability to concentrate on multiple tasks


• Good organizational skills


• Good communication skills (written and verbal)


• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information