Senior Research Associate

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Job Summary

The Shapiro Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology develops molecular and cellular technologies to enable non-invasive imaging and control of biological processes. We are seeking a Senior Research Associate to join our team and help us accomplish this research mission. The successful candidate will push forward multiple rodent in vivo projects by serving as a surgical expert, contributing to daily laboratory operations and experimental design, assisting with in vitro experimental workflows, and helping maintain shared research facilities. This role involves rodent surgery, molecular biology support, shared project ownership, and laboratory safety oversight.

The Senior Research Associate will be an integral member of the laboratory alongside the lab manager, technicians, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students to ensure efficient laboratory operations and contribute to ongoing research projects. As part of their research project contributions, they may be awarded co-authorship on scientific publications.

Additional information about the Shapiro group can be found at http://shapirolab.caltech.edu.

Essential Job Duties

Animal Colony Management, Laboratory Safety, Waste Management, and Compliance:

• Manage the laboratory's colony of experimental mice, including animal counts, transfers, and orders.
• Coordinate animal experiment needs with lab members and ensure an appropriate supply.
• Maintain and organize lab supplies and shipments.
• Manage CBIC waste streams and submit service tickets for hazardous waste pickup.
• Assist with the drafting and amendment of animal use protocols.
• Serve as a liaison to the Office of Laboratory Animal Resources.

In Vivo Experiments:

• Perform independent mouse surgeries for multiple projects. Experience in stereotaxic surgery and cranial window implantation preferred.
• Perform injections: SC, IP, IC, tail vein, retroorbital.
• Perform mammalian cell culture experiments, including vector packaging and/or T-cell/neuron harvest.
• Post-surgery monitoring.
• Keep detailed record of controlled substance use.
• Prepare tissue samples and perform fluorescence immunohistochemistry (IHC) and imaging using confocal microscopy.
• Additional responsibilities as assigned.

Basic Qualifications

• Master's degree in Biology, Bioengineering, Neuroscience, Biochemistry or a related field, or equivalent research experience.
• Minimum 2 years hands-on in vivo experience working with laboratory mice in a biological or biomedical research laboratory.
• Strong organizational and record-keeping skills.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced research setting.
• Working knowledge of IACUC guidelines, laboratory safety practices, and chemical handling procedures.
• Strong commitment to animal welfare with professionalism, compassion, and sound judgment.
• Strong technical troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated proficiency with tail vein injection, stereotaxic procedures, and cranial implantation.
• Background in genetic engineering, behavioral study, and flow cytometry is a plus.
• Proactive involvement in drafting and amending IACUC protocols.
• Experience with immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence tissue staining.
• Experience with confocal microscopy or confocal imaging analysis.
• Demonstrated independent end-to-end ownership of a research project.

Required Documents

• Resume