The Department of Otolaryngologyis seeking a Research Assistant to conduct highly technical and specialized scientific research focused on genetic deafness (autosomal recessive and dominant nonsyndromic hearing loss) exploring phenotype-genotype relationships novel gene discovery gene therapy and the contribution of genetics to age-related hearing loss. This individual will evaluate genetic data to determine genotype-phenotype correlations and develop methodology to identify novel disease-causing loci. Additionally they will independently secure funding conduct research experiments analyze data and disseminate findings through publications and presentations.
Percent Time: 50%
Duties to include:
Experiments Simulations Modeling or Theoretical Investigations:
- Interrogate genetic regions of interest related to autosomal recessive and dominant non-syndromic hearing loss through methods such as in vivo and molecular experiments including cell culture immunohistochemistry and viral vector injections in rodent models.
- Collect and evaluate data integrity and relevance to research questions.
- Evaluate data to establish relevance to the problem or problems being evaluated.
- Define outstanding research problems and contribute to protocol development
- Work independently on research tasks with oversight by Principal Investigator (PI).
- Contribute to documentation of equipment and procedures.
- Develop new protocols for research and obtain support for new and/or continuing research activities.
Data/Research Analysis and Evaluation:
- Analyze data for relevance and data integrity.
- Perform basic data analysis techniques.
- Compare results of scientific investigations to previously published work.
Dissemination of Research Results:
- Prepare research results for publication in reports papers journals books and other media.
- Prepare seminars discussions and lectures for dissemination of knowledge and results of research.
- Represent the entire research group at professional meetings.
Research Proposals/Grants:
- Maintain liaison with sponsoring agencies and organizations as well as with other research and educational institutions.
- Manage all or part of a research project including staff selection assignment and scheduling monitoring of project funds coordination of data generation and analysis and identification acquisition and use of equipment and facilities.
- Participate in determining research priorities and planning programs of research.
Service:
- Maintain effective working relationships with faculty staff students and the public.
- Demonstrate respect for all members of the University community in the course of performing ones duties and in response to administrators supervisors coworkers and customers.
- Welcome the richness of talent from a diverse workforce and recognizes that diversity brings stimulation challenge and energy that contribute to the productive and effective workplace.
- Represent the interests of the University and of unit leadership in the use of resources to meet service and productivity demands within unit goals and budgets; strives to promote continual processes and quality improvement.
- Seek opportunities to enhance ones own professional knowledge skills and abilities as they relate to ones current position and/or to prepare for potential future roles and overall career development.
- Train investigators and support staff and conduct continuing education.
Human Resources/Supervision:
- Mentor graduate students medical residents on research rotations and research assistants working in the lab or collaborating from other labs.
- Provide functional and/or administrative supervision for staff.
- Supervise adherence to safety and compliance guidelines when necessary.
Required Qualifications:
- Academic knowledge of a discipline generally associated with a Doctoral degree in molecular biology genetics or an equivalent professional degree i.e. MD DDS or DVM. In addition the person will have demonstrated the ability to plan and execute a research study through some progressively independent research work.
- Minimum of 3 years of post-doctoral relevant laboratory experience in hearing genetics or related field is required.
- Strong working knowledge of in vivo experimental procedures in rodent (mouse): such as bacteria and cell culture.
- Strong working knowledge of hearing testing in rodent such as: Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) and Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAE) noise overexposure.
- Strong working knowledge of mouse inner ear surgery relative to viral vector injection
- Strong working knowledge of the middle and inner ear anatomy and proficiency in harvesting dissecting and preparing cochlear samples.
- Strong working knowledge of cochlear morphology and sample preparation for various microscopy technics: such as Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopy (SEM TEM) confocal and light imaging.
- Strong working knowledge of molecular evaluation technics such as: PCR RTqPCR western blotting Co-IP immunofluorescence and of the associated equipment.
- Experience genetic analysis technologies and analytical strategies.
- Effective interpersonal skills required as well as written and oral communication and presentation skills.
- Proficient computer skills including Graph pad Prism Adobe illustrator Photoshop ImageJ as well as working knowledge statistical analysis.
Desirable Qualifications:
- Strong working knowledge of plasmid construction.
- Knowledge of University of Iowa Policies and Procedures.
- Supervisory experience is highly desirable.
Position and Application details:
In order to be considered for an interview applicants must upload the following documents and mark them as a Relevant File to the submission:
Job openings are posted for a minimum of 14 calendar days and may be removed from posting and filled any time after the original posting period has ended.
Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. Up to 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process.
For additional questions please contact .
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