RESEARCH ASSOCIATE, SENIOR

Position Summary: The Research Associate, Senior role includes significant independence in designing, organizing, conducting, analyzing highly specialized and advanced physiological experiments using established scientific protocols and procedures, from funded NIH grants. There may also be a role in designing new protocols as findings suggest in coordination with the PI. The Research Associate will summarize findings and publish results in research journals, with direction and editing from the PI. The Research Associate will assume general responsibility for scientific operations of the laboratory, including providing supervision and guidance to lab technicians, students, and other researchers. 

The physiological Senior Research Associate will have a background in in vivo and in vitro neurophysiology (including extracellular physiology, brain slices, and patch clamp analysis of cells) and will coordinate physiological experiments with Dr. Turner. The project will involve physiological analysis of both neurons and vascular structures, particularly capillaries and pericytes, in an animal model of Alzheimer’s disease, with a focus on neurovascular coupling. 

The specific duties include reviewing the planned research protocols and parsing these into individual steps. New techniques may need to be learned, for example survival surgery procedures, non-survival physiological procedures, electrical recording of the nervous system, brain stimulation techniques, animal behavioral analysis (ie, Barnes maze, open field exploration), and chronic recording/stimulation analysis. 

Examples of Duties: 

• Design and implement research protocols; design safety procedures; adapt new procedures, methods or instrumentation relative to research procedures. 
• Oversee media preparation, animal maintenance and equipment maintenance; quality control analysis of reagents. 
• Collect, prepare and analyze research data; keep a detailed notebook summarizing experiments and recording research data; maintain computer database of research data; tabulate and display data for presentation in research conferences and for manuscript preparation; use graphics and statistical software to analyze and present data. 
• Supervise other personnel in the laboratory to coordinate research efforts for increased efficiency; participate in training of fellows, residents, students and volunteer workers as needed. 
• Search pertinent scientific literature as needed. 
• Assist with ordering and procurement of supplies and equipment and with general maintenance of laboratory. 
• Evaluate existing research techniques and recommend improvements to ensure quality and productivity. 
• Compare actual results and expected results and suggest solutions to correct the deviations. 
• Learn and provide scientific and technical expertise for conducting research experiments. 
• Perform laboratory activities and operate laboratory equipment effectively and safely. 
• Handle experiment samples, chemicals and other physical agents according to safety standards. 
• Prepare complete documentations of research activities for reference purposes. 
• Analyze, interpret and document research findings for management review. 
• Present research results in meetings, conferences, and seminars. 

Schedule regular maintenance of laboratory equipment such as vaporizers, microscopes and computers. 

Analyze and resolve research problems in a timely and accurate manner.

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