Research Associate

When you join the growing BILH team, you're not just taking a job, you’re making a difference in people’s lives.

Laboratory Research Associate, VanderHorst Lab, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

The Laboratory of Dr. Veronique VanderHorst at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (https://research.bidmc.org/veronica-vanderhorst) is recruiting a Research Associate.

The new member will join a team of Research Assistants and Associates, postdoctoral fellows and senior staff to work on studies that focus on structure and function of brainstem circuits that mediate walking, breathing, muscle tone and arousal and how neurodegenerative pathologies impact these circuits and their function. This is done in parallel but closely related mouse and postmortem human research lines.

Tools employed in the mouse lines include opto- and chemogenetic, fiberphotometry, conditional circuit mapping combined with EEG, EMG and plethysmography/gait assays to provide a physiological readout. For the human lines, we use standard and advanced staining tools, quantitative image analyses tools to extract data followed by integration with antemortem physiological readouts obtained through wearable devices.

We'd love to hear from you if you have a Bachelor’s degree with 4 years relevant work experience or a Master’s degree followed by 2 years of relevant work experience and you have:
o Extensive experience in immunostaining, ISH
o Extensive experience in quantitative image analyses
o Experience in confocal imaging
o Proven track record to plan, organize and execute studies independently with many samples.
o Proven ability to participate as an independent contributor in multi-function teams.
o A demonstrated track record of a quick learning curve and independent troubleshooting.
o A minimum of 3 years of research experience at the bench in a relevant field.
o Proven experience generating primary data and communicating effectively
Not required for consideration, but considered a plus:
o Background knowledge in neuroscience.
o Datascience and statistical experience
o Experience in high-throughput assays

If you are interested in this position, please include a letter of interest that outlines your motivation to apply for this position and your qualifications for this particular position.

Job Description:

Essential Responsibilities:

1. Functions as a principal technical specialist for a research laboratory or for a specific research project. Functions as an internal consultant and as a resource to other labs both internally and externally. Performs and devises specialized tests and research procedures, troubleshooting problems of own and other researchers' results.
2. Conducts broad range of experiments involving advanced technology. Participates in the design of experimental protocols to achieve the objective of the research project.
3. May prioritize work and assign work to lower-level technical personnel. May instruct laboratory techniques and methodology to students and other research personnel. May be involved in complex data analysis and interpretation of results.
4. Collaborates with supervisor in writing and editing materials for publication. May assist in preparing manuscripts and writing abstracts. May write portion(s) of grant application, e.g.: Materials and Methods, or Experimental Design.
5. May present papers at society meetings. Attends conferences and courses, consults with other researchers and participates in professional activities to keep abreast of the latest technological developments as they relate to the research. Evaluates the applicability of these new developments and implements their use in collaboration with the principal collaborator.

Required Qualifications:

1. Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences or related field required. Master's degree preferred.
2. 3-5 years related work experience required.
3. Bachelor's degree and four years experience. Or, a Master's degree and two years experience.
4. Advanced skills with Microsoft applications which may include Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint or Access and other web-based applications. May produce complex documents, perform analysis and maintain databases.

Competencies:

1. Decision Making: Ability to make decisions that are guided by general instructions and practices requiring some interpretation. May make recommendations for solving problems of moderate complexity and importance.
2. Problem Solving: Ability to address problems that are varied, requiring analysis or interpretation of the situation using direct observation, knowledge and skills based on general precedents.
3. Independence of Action: Ability to follow precedents and procedures. May set priorities and organize work within general guidelines. Seeks assistance when confronted with difficult and/or unpredictable situations. Work progress is monitored by supervisor/manager.
4. Written Communications: Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in written English with internal and external customers.
5. Oral Communications: Ability to comprehend and converse in English to communicate effectively with medical center staff, patients, families and external customers.
6. Knowledge: Ability to demonstrate full working knowledge of standard concepts, practices, procedures and policies with the ability to use them in varied situations.
7. Team Work: Ability to work collaboratively in small teams to improve the operations of immediate work group by offering ideas, identifying issues, and respecting team members.
8. Customer Service: Ability to provide a high level of customer service to patients, visitors, staff and external customers in a professional, service-oriented, respectful manner using skills in active listening and problem solving. Ability to remain calm in stressful situations.

Physical Nature of the Job:
Medium work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and or up to 20 pounds of force frequently. Job is physical in nature and employee needs to stand and/or move around through the majority of their shift.

Pay Range:

$27.00 - $38.46

The pay range listed for this position is the base hourly wage range the organization reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for this position at this time. Actual compensation is determined based on several factors, that may include seniority, education, training, relevant experience, relevant certifications, geography of work location, job responsibilities, or other applicable factors permissible by law.  Compensation may exceed the base hourly rate depending on shift differentials, call pay, premium pay, overtime pay, and other additional pay practices, as applicable to the position and in accordance with the law.

As a health care organization, we have a responsibility to do everything in our power to care for and protect our patients, our colleagues and our communities. Beth Israel Lahey Health requires that all staff be vaccinated against influenza (flu) as a condition of employment.

More than 35,000 people working together. Nurses, doctors, technicians, therapists, researchers, teachers and more, making a difference in patients' lives. Your skill and compassion can make us even stronger.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled