Research Assistant I Hematopoietic Biology & Malignancy

The primary purpose of the Research Assistant I position is to provide technical assistance for carrying out the core research projects of the lab. The Dunbar lab is seeking a motivated individual who has an interest and passion for science and is excited and eager to be at the forefront of cutting-edge translational cancer research. We aim to utilize animal models of human cancer together with state-of-the-art next-generation sequencing techniques of primary patient samples to further understand the mechanisms of disease progression and drug resistance in chronic blood cancers, specifically myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). Dr. Andrew Dunbar, MD, a physician-scientist faculty member within the Department of Hematopoietic Biology and Malignancy (HBM) at MD Anderson, is deeply committed to the mentorship and growth of lab members and will work with new hires to ensure they are able to achieve their long-term career goals.

JOB SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES

Research Experiments and Projects 
Will assist in maintaining the lab’s animal colony—ensuring proper breeding, weaning, and genotyping of individual mouse strains and litters. Will assist with setting up and maintaining experimental animal cohorts, which requires being comfortable in handling mice. This includes performing intermittent facial vein phlebotomy, tail vein injections, drug administration through oral gavage and/or intra-peritoneal routes, and sacrificing animals through humane methods for dissection, tissue procurement, and sample processing. Will assist with processing primary patient blood/bone marrow samples through density gradient separation, which requires good sterile technique, the ability to determine cell counts/viability using a microscope and hemocytometer, and the ability to viably freeze cells for later use. Will help establish and maintain tissue culture cell lines and prepare sterile media & solutions. This also includes monitoring and maintaining tissue culture supplies, preparing cells for cryogenic storage, and thawing/re-establishing viable cell lines.

Laboratory Functions 
Will perform basic molecular biology and tissue culture techniques in manipulation of DNA, RNA and protein as well as primary cells and established cell lines, including polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique, DNA/RNA extraction/quantification, western blot, etc. Requires techniques for handling potentially hazardous chemicals. Requires the ability to accurately prepare media solutions and reagents using a pH meter and balances, and the ability to handle acids, polyacrylamide solutions, flammable materials and other biohazards in accordance with institutional safety policies. Will perform other day-to-day tasks, including packing and mailing viably frozen cells and other reagents to collaborators as needed, working on/maintaining protocols, and ensuring sample banks, databases, etc. are kept up to date.

Laboratory Maintenance  
Will be able to maintain a clean and neat work area to ensure efficient functioning. Will be able to maintain a pleasant, safe, fun, and respectable work environment. Will follow written instructions/operations manuals. Other duties as assigned.