The Division of Gastroenterology is seeking a Research Specialist towork in a laboratory focusing on the biology of vagal sensory neurons in health and disease. The Research Specialist will utilize a solid foundation in basic laboratory techniques to maintain all animal protocols, mouse colonies, laboratory equipment, reagent inventories, and assist in routine experimental work, e.g. DNA isolation, PCR, cell culture, animal surgeries, and animal management. The Research Specialist should have experience with animal handling and should be capable of following protocols to carry out basic animal surgeries as well as cell culture experiments.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Handling mice and performing injections.
  
• Organizing and executing studies of mouse behavior.
• Surgical dissection of mouse tissues and performing frozen tissue sectioning.
• Immunostaining Fluorescent in-situ RNA hybridization using standard kits.
• Confocal and non-confocal fluorescence microscopy.
• Discussing experimental protocols and data with the faculty investigator.
• Genotyping of various transgenic animals.
• Colony management and timed-matings of defined transgenic animal strains.
• Routine animal survival surgeries for injecting drugs/viruses/dyes into the vagus nerve and gastrointestinal tract of animals.
• Applying previous knowledge to troubleshoot experiments.
• Keeping a thorough and organized laboratory notebook to document experiments.
• Maintaining an orderly laboratory workspace.
• Ensuring laboratory efficiency by following set protocols for lab cleanliness, organization, and safety regulations.
• Monitoring inventory levels and proper storage of materials and supplies in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Exercise professional and scientific judgment and assumes responsibility for decisions, consequences, and results.
• Communicate with lab members to understand the biology of sensation of the GI tract by the vagus nerve.
• Utilize a personal computer to help maintain the mouse colony database and to communicate with senior lab personnel on planning various experiments.

• Bachelor's Degree in Biology, Chemistry or related field.
• One year laboratory experience performing relevant techniques.
• Experience with animal handling and capable of following protocols to carry out basic animal surgeries.

• Master's Degree, with related graduate research, may substitute for experience to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.
  

• Demonstrated precision and strong attention to detail.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Classified Title: Research Specialist
Role/Level/Range: ACRP/03/MA
Starting Salary Range: $16.92 - $29.61 HRLY ($24,700 targeted; Commensurate with experience)
Employee group: Casual / On Call
Schedule: up to 40 hours m-f 9-5
Exempt Status:Non-Exempt
Location:School of Medicine Campus
Department name: SOM DOM Gastroenterology
Personnel area: School of Medicine