Student Research Assistant - Environmental Health Science

The Graduate Research Assistant (Part-Time) will provide hands-on laboratory support for research in environmental health sciences, molecular and cellular toxicology, extracellular vesicle (EV) biology, and related biomedical research. The position will assist with routine and project-specific experiments involving mammalian cell culture, environmental exposure studies, EV isolation and characterization, nucleic acid and protein assays, and molecular cloning.

Under the supervision of the Principal Investigator and other designated research personnel, the Graduate Research Assistant will maintain cell cultures; prepare reagents and experimental materials; perform sample collection and processing; and support PCR/qPCR, gel electrophoresis, Western blotting, plasmid preparation, restriction digestion, cloning, bacterial transformation/culture, and related molecular biology procedures. The incumbent may also assist with microscopy, flow-based or particle-based measurements, and other laboratory assays after appropriate training.

The position will maintain complete and accurate laboratory records, follow established SOPs and safety requirements, support reagent and supply organization, perform basic data organization and quality control, and contribute to preparation of figures, presentations, and research summaries. This is a training-oriented research position intended to provide a graduate student with progressively independent experience in rigorous laboratory research while supporting the laboratory's ongoing and emerging research projects.

Function: Cell Culture, Exposure Studies, and EV Research

• Maintain mammalian cell cultures using aseptic technique, including routine feeding, passaging, seeding, freezing/thawing, and experimental setup under established protocols.
• Assist with environmental or experimental treatments, sample collection, and isolation, processing, storage, and basic characterization of extracellular vesicles and other biological samples.

Function: Molecular Biology and Biochemical Assays

• Perform or assist with nucleic acid and protein extraction, PCR/qPCR, gel electrophoresis, protein quantification, Western blotting, and related analytical procedures according to established protocols.
• Support molecular cloning workflows, including plasmid preparation, restriction digestion, ligation/assembly, bacterial transformation and culture, clone screening, and preparation of samples for sequencing or downstream experiments.

Function: Research Operations, Documentation, and Data Support

• Maintain organized laboratory notebooks and electronic records; document experimental conditions and results; perform basic data organization and quality-control checks; and assist with figures, presentations, and research summaries.
• Prepare reagents and buffers; label and organize samples; monitor routine supplies; maintain clean shared work areas; and assist with routine equipment care and laboratory organization in accordance with safety and quality requirements.

Function: Other Duties

Performs other duties as requested or required, whether or not specifically mentioned in this job description, and completes project-specific training before undertaking new procedures.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor's degree in biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, biomedical engineering, environmental health sciences, toxicology, chemistry, or a related field, and current enrollment in a relevant graduate degree program. Prior hands-on research experience in cell culture, tissue engineering, molecular biology, biomedical research, or a comparable wet-laboratory setting is required.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Basic knowledge of cell and molecular biology and the ability to follow written experimental protocols, SOPs, and laboratory safety procedures.
• Ability to perform careful pipetting, solution and reagent preparation, sample labeling, routine laboratory calculations, and accurate record keeping.
• Ability to conduct aseptic work and maintain mammalian cell cultures, or demonstrated ability to learn cell-culture techniques through supervised training.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple experiments, maintain sample traceability, and meet project timelines.
• Ability to work independently after training and collaboratively with faculty, students, staff, and collaborators in a multidisciplinary research environment.
• Proficiency with standard office and research software (e.g., Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and willingness to learn laboratory data-analysis and instrument software.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture and passaging; experience with cell-based assays, tissue engineering, or related biological systems is desirable.
• Experience with one or more molecular biology or protein-analysis techniques, such as DNA/RNA extraction, PCR/qPCR, gel electrophoresis, Western blotting, cloning, plasmid preparation, restriction digestion, or bacterial transformation/culture.
• Experience or strong interest in extracellular vesicle isolation/characterization, fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, nanoparticle analysis, environmental toxicology/exposure experiments, or related biomedical research methods.