RESEARCH SCIENTIST/ENGINEER 4 - University of Washington

Req #: 240863 Department: DIVISION OF METABOLISM, ENDOCRINOLOGY AND NUTRITIO Posting Date: 11/06/2024 Closing Info: Open Until Filled Salary: $6,726 - $7,800 per month Shift: First Shift Notes: As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here. (https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/02/benefits-professional-staff-librarians-academic-staff-20230701\_a11y.pdf) As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills, and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world. UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits, and natural beauty. **The UW School of Medicine's Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology & Nutrition has an outstanding opportunity for a Research Scientist/Engineer 4.** **POSITION PURPOSE** The field of research this position is engaged in: The overall goal of the position is to develop and optimize in vitro fluidics instrumentation for research aimed at maintaining and assessing real-time tissue function in response to changes in dissolved, trace signaling gases (including H2S, NO and CO). This project is part of an ongoing collaboration between the Sweet laboratory and the laboratories of John Kramlich (Dept of Mechanical Engineering) and James Hermanson (Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics). The purpose of the research project(s) this position supports: Role of dissolved gas signal on islet and tissue function. The project involves studying the effects of dissolved gases (O2) including trace signaling gases (CO, NO and H2S) on islet function. Hypoxia and resulting effects of O2-senstive VEGF secretion are linked to many diseases including stroke, cancer and diabetic complications. In addition to O2, trace gases produced by cells (H2S, NO and CO) act as signals to regulate cellular and mitochondrial function. Yet despite the scientific and clinical importance of dissolved gases, quantitative methods to measure the real time effects of dissolved gases on intact tissue are not available. Investigators who study trace gases almost exclusively use aqueous based surrogates/donors of gas. The equivalence of these compounds to the gases is suspect. Thus, there is a strong need to develop and utilize technology that enables the study of both abundant and trace dissolved gases. The system we have developed achieves unprecedented control of both O2 and trace gases and lays the foundation to investigate new effects of dissolved gases that have unreliably tested before with donor molecules. This position should have a basic understanding of the PI's research program. **DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES** Activities center on performing/optimizing sophisticated real time fluidics methodologies to generate data to support instrument development, scientific investigation, publications and grant applications. Development and optimization and testing of fluidics and analytical instrumentation (25%) + Manage the assembly, testing and optimization of a device to precisely control dissolved gas composition based on software-driven mass flow controllers; + Incorporate gas control system with an existing flow culture system and other analytical modalities such as spectrophotometers.Assess metabolism/function of tissue/cells using the enhanced flow culture system to investigate the regulatory roles of signaling gases and other biological factors (25%) + Independently operate the flow system to measure insulin and glucagon secretion (by islets), glucose uptake (by muscle) and neurotransmitter and cytokine release (by hypothalamus, retina and kidney); + Process, graph and interpret data.Tissue Processing (20%) + Cell and tissue culture; + Isolation and purification of pancreatic islets from rodents using microsurgical and gradient purification techniques; + Harvesting and processing of retina, muscle, kidney glomeruli and hypothalamus from rodents.Perform supplementary assays to support and complement data generated with the fluidics system (20%) + Perform end point assays on a metabolites such as lactate and ATP using spectrophotometry; + Perform real time imaging experiments to measure calcium and NADH; + Use radioactive flux and RIA/ELISA assays to measure to insulin and uptake of various test compounds such as pyruvate and glucose. + General ELISAassay development for a large number of classes of compounds including neurotransmitters, hormones, cytokines, and cell signals.Manuscript and grant preparation (10%) + Generation of publication quality graphs using advanced software tools to create visually compelling and informative figures that adhere to the standards of academic journals + Write methods sections for manuscripts and grants ensuring that complex experimental protocols were conveyed with clarity and precision. + Literature search for method development; identify and review relevant studies and existing methodologies, synthesizing findings, and integrate them into research approach. + Research Sponsors/Stakeholders (e.g. NIH, NSF, other schools or research institutions, etc.) + NIH, Helmsley Foundation, UW Dept of Mechanical Engineering and UW Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics; City of Hope, Harvard. **MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS** + Master's degree in life science or technology or related field AND four years of related work experience in the area of stroke, cancer and diabetic complications research. _Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration._ **ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS** + Experience with harvesting of tissues from rodents and in particular isolation and purification of islets; cell and tissue culture skills. + Experience in laboratory setting; penchant and aptitude for engineering principals and design especially applied to flow culture instrumentation; willingness to work with rodents; flexibility with work schedule. **DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS** + Islet perifusion/insulin secretion assays. + General life sciences laboratory techniques. + Ability to operate analytical tools such as fluorescent imaging microscopes, spectrophotometers, plate readers. + Measurement and safe handling of radioisotopes using liquid scintillation and gamma counters. **Application Process:** The application process may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select "Apply to this position". Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your "My Jobs" page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are access ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.\#UWDeptMedicineJobs University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.