Research Assistant 2 - Oregon Health & Science University

Department Overview:

The Zimmers lab in the Department of Cell, Development & Cancer Biology and the Knight Cancer Institute working to find new treatments for cancer cachexia and to improve patient resilience for better response to therapeutics. Cachexia is weight loss in cancer; tumors cause cachexia through effects on the brain, leading to anorexia and malaise, and on metabolism and the immune system. We seek to find approaches that block cachexia development to improve function, response to therapy, quality of life, and survival in cancer. We create and use pre-clinical mouse models that can be manipulated and tested to examine cachexia phenotypes.  The purpose of this position is to assist in developing mouse models of cancer cachexia and assess drug responses in those models.  This includes mouse colony management and husbandry, tissue dissection, and genotyping.

Function/Duties of Position:

As a team member in the Zimmers lab, you will work to help understand mechanisms driving cachexia and the impact of targeted therapies.  You will be trained in growing cultures of tumor cells, therapeutic modeling, and histology techniques, quantitative imaging analysis, harvesting and processing mouse tissues, survival mouse surgeries, data entry/collection, laboratory housekeeping and endpoint molecular analyses including via immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, ELISAs, and RNAseq or proteomics.  You will be responsible for conducting some phases of projects independently and may help to design experiments.

 

Do you have strong organizational and communication skills and the ability to work under minimal supervision?  Have you had experience with cell biology laboratory techniques?  Then consider joining Oregon’s pancreas research headquarters on the South Waterfront to start building your future in the biomedical sciences. 

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's in relevant field OR
• Associate's AND 3 years of relevant experience OR
• 4 years of relevant experience OR
• Equivalent combination of training and experience
• Computer skills; strong organizational abilities; excellent communication skills; strong data management skills; exceptional attention to detail; ability to multitask; ability to follow direction; must be able to work in a BSL-2 environment; demonstrated ability to work independently under minimal supervision; strong knowledge of laboratory techniques and cell biology

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Bioscience, in-lab training

All are welcome:Oregon Health & Science University values a diverse and culturally competent workforce. We are proud of our commitment to being an equal opportunity, affirmative action organization that does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of any protected class status, including disability status and protected veteran status. Individuals with diverse backgrounds and those who promote diversity and a culture of inclusion are encouraged to apply. To request reasonable accommodation contact the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department at 503-494-5148 or aaeo@ohsu.edu.