Research Associate - WVU Cancer Institute

The WVU Cancer Institute at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a Research Associate position.

About the Opportunity

Translational research laboratory in the WVU Department of Surgery is currently accepting applications for a Research Associate who will perform independent experiments and gather data to support projects at the direction of the lab PI, as well as serve as a technical resource and mentor to undergraduate, graduate and medical students in the lab. The laboratory studies pancreatic cancer with a focus on tumor microenvironment and tumor immunology. Of particular interests are new laboratory directions in interdisciplinary research focused on cancer immunotherapy/bacteriotherapy, encompassing microbiology, immunology, and cancer. Competitive applicants will have the demonstrated capacity to provide rigorous results, training and supervision with a high level of autonomy and independence.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year (employee leave)
• 18 sick days per year (for when you're ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family's, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ's.
• Wellness programs

What You'll Do

• Assist with the coordination of tasks for students and other staff within the lab setting. Will be responsible for providing training to new individuals on basic lab procedures, techniques, equipment, etc

• Assist with the running of day to day operations within the laboratory.

• Provide technical assistance, mentorship and general guidance to students in coordination with lab PI.

• Train and supervise junior laboratory members

• Provide oversight and troubleshooting for other laboratory members

• Design, plan and conduct independent experiments; collect, record, and present data at the direction of the lab PI.

• Integrate research findings into planning and design of future experiments

• Gather preliminary data in support of PIs grant applications

• Conduct in depth literature searches to stay abreast with the latest development in tumor immunology and pancreatic cancer research, identify novel techniques, research basic science questions and report relevant findings to students and PI as requested

• Actively participate in weekly lab meetings, facilitating discussion between lab members and providing feedback to presentations

• Collaborate with internal and external researchers, fostering a team-oriented and collaborative research environment

• Present research findings, background information and future directions at lab meetings, regional, national and international conferences

• PhD or MD in biological or health sciences

• A minimum of three (3) years of experience in the following:

• Demonstrated ability to perform basic molecular science assays including but not limited to western blot, ELISA, PCR, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescent staining, RNA sequencing, flow cytometry.

• Independently performing experimental protocols involving culturing bacteria to perform genetic manipulation and assisting others in testing bacterial strains using in vitro and in vivo models.

• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Experience with sterile techniques, including tissue culture
• Experience with gene cloning, and protein expression and purification
• Experience with handling of research animals, primarily mice
• Demonstrated peer reviewed publications in the field of cancer and/or cancer immunotherapy
• Demonstrated ability to mentor trainees in laboratory environment
• Demonstrated ability to move a research project forward with large amount of autonomy and independent
• Highly motivated, hardworking and independent researcher that can function responsibly with large degree of autonomy
• Ability to obtain rigorous and accurate scientific data with appropriate controls
• Knowledge of laboratory environment, appropriate procedures and general laboratory protocol
• Knowledge and adherence to laboratory safety protocols, ethical standards and regulatory requirements
• Skilled in handling of research animals for procedures, including mouse models of cancer
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Strong communication skills with ability to present scientific data
• Ability to perform independent data analysis and basic statistical analysis
• Ability to get along well with others in a collaborative group setting
• Management and leadership skills providing capacity for training, supervision and mentorship of students
• Adept and proficient in scientific writing of high quality manuscripts, grants and research proto