Posting Number S05955P Position Title Research Assistant I and II Functional Title Department Neuroscience Salary Range $36,764 - $40,000 / DOQ Pay Basis Monthly Position Status Regular full-time Location Richardson Position End Date (if temporary) Posting Open Date 09/13/2024 Posting Close Date Open Until Filled No Desired Start Date 10/01/2024 Job Summary We are seeking to fill the position of Research Assistant I and II in the Department of Neuroscience at The University of Texas at Dallas under the supervision of Dr. Puja Parekh. Our lab is interested in understanding the neural circuit mechanisms supporting cognitive functions and motivated behaviors and how they are affected by chronic stress and pharmacological and behavioral interventions. We use a wide range of in vivo techniques in mice to explore these questions including viral-mediated gene transfer, calcium imaging, optogenetics and behavioral assessments, as well as single-cell transcriptomic. This position will provide technical assistance in support of various research projects and conduct research activities according to research protocol. Research activities may include some or all of the following: patient recruiting and screening, traditional laboratory experiments & activities, informatics, and/or animal laboratory work. This position has been funded for 12 months with the possibility of extending it to 24 months. Minimum Education and Experience Research Assistant I: Bachelor's degree in one of the basic sciences or an equivalent combination of education and experience in customer service or in daily interactions in a public services environment. Research Assistant II: Bachelor's degree; three years related experience; or any equivalent combination of education and experience. Preferred Education and Experience Preferred Education and Experience * A Bachelor's or Master's degree with a major or minor (or relevant coursework) in Neuroscience, Neurobiology, Cognitive Science, Biological Psychology or a related field and some hands-on laboratory-based research experience in these areas. * Experience with mouse handling or husbandry and familiarity with behavioral assays and common techniques such as administration of compounds via injection. * Basic experience with MATLAB and/or Python or willingness to learn how to implement existing scripts and pipelines to analyze behavioral and neural data. * Willingness to perform survival and terminal procedures as needed. * Knowledge of basic statistics for data analysis and ability to think analytically. * Exposure to techniques in mouse brain tissue processing for histological assessment or extraction of fresh brain tissue for molecular assays. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Essential Duties and Responsibilities Research Assistant I: * Assist PI with lab management including ordering supplies and keeping an up-to-date inventory * Maintaining protocols and compliance paperwork for the lab * Performing experiments with live animals or tissue samples under the guidance of the Principal Investigator * Preparing data for dissemination * Assist in training junior lab members * Participating actively in lab meetings and departmental events * Other duties as assigned Research Assistant I position information: FLSA Status: Non-Exempt Salary Range: $36,764 - $38,000 Minimum Requirements: Bachelor's degree in one of the basic sciences or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Research Assistant II: * Performs duties and responsibilities above with advanced experience and comprehensive knowledge. * Provide highly responsible technical skills in carrying out various research projects. Research Assistant II position information: FLSA Status: Non-Exempt Salary Range: $38,000 - $40,000 Minimum Requirements: Bachelor's degree; three years related experience; or any equivalent combination of education and experience. Essential Knowledge, Skills & Abilities * Work independently and collaboratively within the research team. * Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and proficiency in written and oral communication. * Motivated to learn quickly * Consistency and reliability * Time management skills and the ability to perform multiple tasks daily and plan ahead to accommodate long-term experiments involving live animals. * An interest in the research questions being investigated and in contributing to experimental design * Proficiency with notebook keeping, and the proper use of basic laboratory equipment such as pipettes, graduated cylinders and balances. 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