Research Assistant 2 - Military veterans preferred

Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon Health & Science University values a diverse and culturally competent workforce. We are proud of our commitment to being an equal opportunity, affirmative action organization that does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of any protected class status, including disability status and protected veteran status. Individuals with diverse backgrounds and those who promote diversity and a culture of inclusion are encouraged to apply. To request reasonable accommodation contact the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department at 503-494-5148 or aaeo@ohsu.edu.


Research Assistant 2

US-OR-Portland

Job ID: 2025-33967
Type: Regular Full-Time
# of Openings: 1
Category: Research
Portland, OR (Marquam Hill)

Overview

This lab will focuses on understanding the role of CD8 memory T cells as critical regulators of immune tolerance in the human gastrointestinal tract and liver. To better understand the contribution of CD8 tissue-resident memory T cells to tolerance in digestive organs, we study their function and heterogeneity both in healthy individuals and across a variety of inflammatory conditions including drug-induced gastrointestinal toxicities (i.e. checkpoint inhibitor associated colitis and hepatitis) and spontaneous autoimmune diseases (i.e. inflammatory bowel disease, microscopic colitis, celiac disease).

We are seeking a motivated Laboratory Technician (Research Assistant 2) who will help to set up and manage our new translational laboratory at OHSU. Responsibilities will include management of facilities, equipment, and the establishment of a human specimen biorepository. The primary responsibilities in this role will be two-fold: the first will be to oversee lab ordering and inventory management and the second will include processing human biospecimens for the laboratory’s repository of human blood and tissue samples. Responsibilities related to the biorepository will include interacting and effectively communicating with clinical research coordinators in the hospital, blood and tissue specimen processing for cryopreservation, updating and maintaining the laboratory’s cloud-based biosample management software, and processing human biosamples for downstream assays such as microscopy, ex vivo cell culture assays, epigenetic studies, and/or the generation of RNA sequencing libraries.

Duties include: 

• Oversee lab ordering and chemical inventory
• Manage human blood and tissue biorepository: communicates with clinical research coordinators, processes blood and tissue for cryopreservation, updating and maintaining the laboratory’s cloud-based biosample management software, and helping to identify and process human samples for downstream assays such as microscopy, ex vivo cell culture assays, epigenetic studies, and/or the generation of single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing libraries.
• Assist researchers with experiments
• Operation of core equipment for the lab, training new users on laboratory equipment, manage equipment and facilities (maintenance, service contracts, quotes)

• Bachelor's degree in scientific field or Associate's degree AND 3 years of relevant experience
• At least 1 year of experience doing laboratory bench research
• Must have experience with basic scientific bench techniques including prior experience or ability to readily learn nucleic acid purification from tissues and cells, PCR, gel electrophoresis, generation of single cell suspensions for flow cytometry or other assays, and the generation of bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing libraries
• Excellent organizational and communication skills
• Ability to execute detail-oriented management of laboratory activities

• 2+ years of laboratory bench research and college-level immunology course work
• Experience with database management, FlowJo software, and Excel

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