Research Assistant

The Li Lab is seeking for a research assistant who has excellent human cell culture skill and is interested in functional genomics and/or cancer biology to join us on a NIH funded project.

We study stress response pathways and protein quality control mechanisms in physiological and pathological conditions. Our lab combines unbiased genomics (transcriptomics and epigenomics) and functional genomics (CRISPR screen) with mechanistic study using genetics, cellular and molecular biological approaches. The successful applicant will perform experiments with the guidance from the principal investigator and a postdoctoral fellow. The research assistant will participate in the laboratory organization and training of new lab members.

The project uses human cancer cells as the primary model and investigates the relationships between proteostasis, energy metabolism and genome stability. Opportunities are available for working with C. elegans and mouse models as well.

1. Maintain the lab stock of cell lines and manage the lab database
2. Design and perform experiments with guidance from the Pl and a postdoc fellow
3. Detailed documentation of experiments and results
4. Lab organization, reagent preparation and management
5. Participation in lab and departmental meetings

(A) Education requirement:

• Bachelor's degree or Master's degree in the field of Life Sciences

(B) Licenses or certifications: None

(C) Technical/computer skills:

• Familiarity with basic lab techniques and human cell culture.
• Have experience in transfection and/or lentiviral transduction of mammalian cells.
• Ability to coordinate day-to-day work, and follow protocols to complete a variety of detailed tasks.
• Ability to record detailed procedures and results.
• Familiarity with the internet and Microsoft Office.
• Excellent communication skills.

(D) Prior experience:

• Experience with molecular cloning, microscopy and/or gene expression analysis is preferred.
• Additional preference will be given to candidates with experience in: broad knowledge of molecular biology techniques, flow cytometry, and bioinformatics.