Senior Research Associate - Shetty Lab

Job Title

Senior Research Associate - Shetty Lab

Agency

Texas A&M University Health Science Center

Department

Cell Biology and Genetics

Proposed Minimum Salary

$3,042.67 monthly

Job Location

Bryan, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

Our Commitment 

Texas A&M University is committed to enriching the learning and working environment by promoting a culture that respects all perspectives, talents & lived experiences.  Embracing varying opinions and perspectives strengthens our core values which are: Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Selfless Service.  

Who we are

As one of the fastest-growing academic health centers in the nation, the Texas A&M University Health Science Center encompasses five colleges and numerous centers and institutes working together to improve health through transformative education, innovative research and team-based health care delivery.

 

What we want

The Health Science Center (HSC) is looking for a Senior Research Associate to serve as a member of the Cell Biology and Genetics/Shetty Lab team. We desire an individual who subscribes to and supports our commitment as stated above. The successful applicant will bring an expert level of research experience to the position and understand the demands of supporting executives in a fast-paced environment. This person must be professional, enjoy working in a high-volume environment and be able to apply strong organizational skills while being flexible in their daily routine. If this is you, we invite you to apply to become a member of our team.

What you need to know

Compensation will be commensurate to the selected hire’s experience.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree

• 4 years of relevant professional experience.

Required Special Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Expertise in cell cultures, stem cell expansion and characterization, isolation of extracellular vesicles from the spent media, immunohistochemistry, biochemical and molecular biological assays, siRNA/antagomir mediated knock down experiments, animal modeling of human diseases, stereotaxic surgery, neurobehavioral studies, and flow cytometry.

• Extensive expertise for culturing human cells in BL-2 laboratory.

• Ability to perform in vitro functional assays.

• Ability to complete biochemical and molecular biological assays.

• Ability to multi-task and work cooperatively with others.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Master’s degree in Biochemistry, Neuroscience or Biotechnology.

• Three years of expertise in cell culture techniques, isolation of extracellular vesicles from stem cell cultures, immunohistochemistry, characterization of extracellular vesicles through biochemical and molecular biological assays, and animal modeling of human diseases.

• Expansion of human mesenchymal stem cells/ human induced pluripotent stem cells.

• Isolation and characterization of extracellular vesicles from spent culture media..

• Animal modeling of human diseases.

Responsibilities: The Senior Research Associate will be responsible for culturing human induced pluripotent stem cells, directed differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells into neural stem cells, neurons, microglia and astrocytes, isolation and characterization of extracellular vesicles shed by stem cells or their progeny, in vitro assays, biochemical and molecular biological assays, data collection and interpretation and manuscript writing. Additional duties include intranasal administration of extracellular vesicles in animal models of aging, traumatic brain injury, neuroinflammation and Alzheimer’s disease and characterization of therapeutic benefits through behavioral, histological, biochemical, and molecular biological measures.

Cell Culture Studies: Designs: Plans and conducts cultures of human mesenchymal stem cells and human induced pluripotent stem cells from different sources. Plans and conducts the differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells into mesenchymal stem cells, neural stem cells, neurons, astrocytes and microglia.

Isolation and Characterization of Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) from Stem Cells and Stem Cell-derived Progeny: Develops protocols for the isolation of EVs from spent culture media using anion exchange chromatography and size-exclusion chromatography.

Evaluates the number and size of EVs using NanoSight, markers of EVs using ELISA and Western blots and morphology using electron microscopy.

Animal Model Studies: Determines the therapeutic efficacy of EVs administered intranasally to animal models (rat or mouse models) of Alzheimer’s disease, traumatic brain injury, chronic neuroinflammation, Parkinson’s disease, and Gulf War Illness.

Evaluates and interprets the effects of EV treatment on cognitive, mood and motor function in these animal models.

Brain Tissue Studies: Quantitatively determines the therapeutic effects of intranasal EV treatment in animal models of disease using brain tissue analysis. Involves immunohistochemical, immunofluorescence, ELISA, WB and qPCR studies on brain tissue samples to measure the expression of various proteins, mRNAs and miRNAs.

Analyses and interpretation of data and Manuscript writing: Analyzes and interprets data with appropriate statistical analysis, prepares data and figures and writes manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Tracking neuroinflammatory markers through analysis of blood: Develops methods to isolate brain-derived extracellular vesicles from the blood of animal models of disease and patients, characterizes neuron-derived and astrocyte-derived EVs for their composition using ELISA, WB, qPCR, and small RNA sequencing.

Other duties: Keeps detailed records of data. Supervises undergraduate and/or graduate students in the laboratory. Performs other duties as assigned.

 Why Texas A&M University?

 Why Texas A&M University?

Texas A&M University is committed to enriching the learning and working environment by promoting a culture that respects all perspectives, talents & lived experiences.  Embracing varying opinions and perspectives strengthens our core values which are: Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Selfless Service. 

• Medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life and AD&D, flexible spending accounts , and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M contributing to employee health and basic life premiums

• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays

• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave  and at least eight hours of paid vacation  each month

• Automatically enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas

• Health and Wellness: Free exercise programs and release time

• Professional Development: All employees have access to free LinkedIn Learning  training, webinars, and limited financial support to attend conferences, workshops, and more

• Educational release time and tuition assistance  for completing a degree while a Texas A&M employee

• Living Well, a program at Texas A&M that has been built by employees, for employees

Instructions to Applicants: Applications received by Texas A&M University must either have all job application data entered or a resume attached. Failure to provide all job application data or a complete resume could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application. We encourage all applicants to upload a resume or use a LinkedIn profile to pre-populate the online application.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer.