Hopkins ChemBE Career Network

JHU Research Assistant

Under initial supervision of a faculty investigator and occasionally lab research personnel, technician will perform routine molecular biological and protein chemistry manipulations and biophysical experiments. Work requires use of scientific methods, procedures and techniques gained through training and experience. The technician will also be responsible for general and routine organization.

The primary duties and responsibilities of the job.

The technician will perform experiments under direct supervision of faculty and lab research staff but is expected to quickly become independent. S/he may have an independent project and may be included as co-author of publications resulting from their work in the laboratory. S/he will be involved in instructing graduate and undergraduate students. Otherwise the technician will be involved in specific projects. Outstanding organizational skills are required as the technician will be involved in organizing lab records and enforcing order in databases. The technician will monitor inventory levels, order materials and supplies in accordance with established policies and procedures in the laboratory. S/he will be involved in maintaining laboratory protocols. The technician will eventually be involved in training of other individuals who will work in our laboratory either in a permanent of a temporary basis. The technician will be responsible for general maintenance of laboratory equipment and supplies and for completing purchase orders for the laboratory’s staff. Some of the techniques the technician will use are basic bacterial cell culture, recombinant DNA cloning, PCR, DNA extraction and analysis, DNA purification, gel electrophoresis, protein expression and purification. Training in biophysical methods will be provided as dictated by the projects.

In consultation with the faculty supervisor, the technician will perform, evaluate and trouble-shoot methods as necessary, preparation of solutions and reagents following standard procedure, data entry and analysis. The biophysical experiments will involve measurement of binding and stability of complexes involved in biological protein folding. The experiments will use temperature and chemical denaturants as unfolding agents, characterization of proteins with a variety of optical spectroscopies and data analysis. The technician must be able to understand theory behind experiments and to apply analytical methods for analysis of results of experiments

Education Requirement

A BA/BS required in molecular biology, biochemistry, cell biology, biophysics or related field. Previous experience in laboratory work helpful. A minimum of one year of college level mathematics required. Sophisticated knowledge of science required. Understanding of the environment of the research laboratory required. Training/experience in biological wet lab very helpful. College/university lab experience helpful.

To Apply

Contact Dr Fleming at Karen.Fleming@jhu.edu.  Compensation is at $28,000-32,000.

Computer-Integrated Surgical Systems and Technology(CISST) Engineering Research Center (ERC) Laboratory of Computational Sensing and Robotics (LCSR)
Research Experience for Undergraduates 2009

The REU program is an intensive ten-week program of laboratory research and instruction. In the program, each REU student receives hands-on laboratory research experience under guidance from faculty and graduate student mentors. The students will also receive courses on ethics in research and technical communication. The students will have the opportunity to tour local government laboratories and a private company. One of the highlights of the program is the opportunity to participate in a surgery at the Minimally Invasive Surgical Training Center (MISTC) at Johns Hopkins. The students will be provided housing and a stipend of $4,000 will be paid.

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