Research Assistant II - Psych & Behavioral Science

What we do here changes the world. UTHealth Houston is Texas’ resource for healthcare education, innovation, scientific discovery, and excellence in patient care. That’s where you come in.

Once you join us you won't want to leave. It’s because we reward our team for the excellent service they provide. Our total rewards package includes the benefits you’d expect from a top healthcare organization (benefits, insurance, etc.), plus:  

• 100% paid medical premiums for our full-time employees  
• Generous time off (holidays, preventative leave day, both vacation and sick time – all of which equates to around 37-38 days per year) 
• The longer you stay, the more vacation you’ll accrue! 
• Longevity Pay (Monthly payments after two years of service) 
• Build your future with our awesome retirement/pension plan! 

We take care of our employees! As a world-renowned institution, our employees’ wellbeing is important to us. We offer work/life services such as... 

• Free financial and legal counseling 
• Free mental health counseling services 
• Gym membership discounts and access to wellness programs 
• Other employee discounts including entertainment, car rentals, cell phones, etc. 
• Resources for child and elder care 
• Plus many more! 

Position Summary:

Under general direction of senior research staff, conducts activities to support research projects. Exercises judgment within defined procedures and practices.

The Translational Psychiatry Program in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences is looking for a Research Assistant to join their multi-disciplinary and productive team. The Research Assistant will support studies focused on the neurobiology of psychiatric disorders. Activities are mostly focused on wet-lab experiments with human biological specimens, cells, and post-mortem tissues, including cell culture, isolation of nucleic acids, PCR, epigenetics, ELISA, microarrays, microscopy, and molecular biology techniques.

Position Key Accountabilities:

Conducts research activities, under general direction, according to research. Research activities may include some or all of the following: patient recruiting and screening, traditional laboratory experiments and activities, informatics, field interviewer recruiting, screening and training and/or animal laboratories. 

Maintains adequate level of lab supplies to assure timely achievement of lab activities. 

Maintains accurate and timely records to include notebooks, records, databases, etc. as needed by the research project.

Monitors laboratory and/or other supplies to ensure sufficient inventory to support research projects. Ensures quality of reagents or other supplies.

Stays abreast of new and updated protocols for research department 

As needed, coordinates the work of laboratory technicians, support staff and other assistants to ensure efficient, timely and high quality results. Answers questions or resolves problems regarding routine or more complex duties.

Complies with all governmental and University policies, rules, regulation and codes.

May participate in continuing education programs, workshops and seminars.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Certification/Skills:

General knowledge and some detailed concepts of research field assigned.

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree or relevant experience in lieu of education.

Minimum Experience:

One year of related experience in a research or clinical lab environment.
May substitute required experience with equivalent years of education beyond the minimum education requirement.

Ideal candidates will possess significant experience in a wet-lab environment and a strong interest in genetics, psychiatry, and neuroscience.

Physical Requirements:

Exerts up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or 10 pounds frequently and/or up to 10 pounds constantly to move objects.  
This position may include work involving potentially hazardous chemical, biological or radioactive agents.

Security Sensitive:

This job class may contain positions that are security sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of Texas Education Code § 51.215

Residency Requirement:

Employees must permanently reside and work in the State of Texas.