Research Associate 1

OVERVIEW OF POSITION:

Execute behavioral and psychopharmacological experiments in the Smart Cube. 

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

Priority A:

1. Review, comprehend and comply with all SOP's and IACUC, safety and quality assurance standards related to assigned work area.
2. Morning check for all cubes.  Each morning, run the morning script calibrating all functions of the cube and recording all information on the SC morning check worksheet.
3. Troubleshoot major functionality issues of cubes and communicate with supervisor about actions taken. Repair components of the SmartCube as necessary.
4. Execute SmartCube experiments.  This includes handling and weighing mice, dosing (ip, sc and po), scruffing and placing mice in cubes according to established SC procedures.  During the pretreatment period, observe mice for any toxicity.  Use master cube control to run all cubes.
5. Cleaning.  After all the runs are finished, each day all cubes are completely cleaned of any alphadri, all floors are cleaned and vacuum emptied.
6. Disposal of hazardous materials.
7. Cube Calibration.  Once per week, once room is taken offline and a full calibration is performed on all cubes.  
8. Quality Control for run sheets and drug sheets. Ensure they are signed and placed in PGI or client notebooks.

Priority B: Test Articles

1. Ability to perform drug calculation accurately including but not limited to drug amount, vehicle amount, concentration, dose, dose volume, correction factors, dilutions, etc.
2. Weighing drugs with the drug database.
3. Preparing drugs using all necessary tools including the vortex, water bath sonicator, hot plate, and probe sonicator, and pH testing.
4. Disposal of hazardous materials.
5. Properly labeling all vials.
6. Maintenance of the Smart cube portion of the wet lab.
7. Receiving and registering shipment of drugs from client.

Priority C: Other

1. Colony maintenance/ Census
2. Restocking of supplies
3. Training on additional behavioral techniques
4. Quality control of tissue collections and preparing samples for shipment
5. Weekend Dosing (+Rat Dosing IP, SC, PO)
6. Other tasks as assigned

Priority D: Data Handling

1. Conduct all basic SC analyses including; class, subclass, activity, and loco index.
2. Have a basic understanding of the data.
3. Ability to save data appropriately.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Bachelor’s degree in scientific field
2. Organizational and multitasking skills required
3. Ability to work well with others
4. Computer skills including Microsoft Windows, Word and Excel

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Ability and willingness to learn new techniques and ideas
2. Ability to perform drug calculations
3. Understanding of behavioral theories as well as pharmacology is desirable
4. Experience handling, observing and injecting mice