Senior Research Associate, CRI

Job Summary

The Children’s Research Institute (CRI) at UT Southwestern has an exciting opportunity for an experienced microinjectionist to work for the Mouse Genome Engineering Core. This person will primarily be responsible for performing pronuclear and blastocyst injections, microsurgery, and mouse colony management services. This would be an ideal position for someone with technical and experimental skills who is interested in managing a transgenic mouse core.

Principal Responsibilities

• Super-ovulation of mice (hormone injections, mating) and preparation of foster females. Tagging and tissue collection for genotyping.
• Isolation of pre-implantation embryos.
• Performing pronuclear microinjections, microsurgery, monitoring post-surgery fosters.
• Manage and monitor the core’s mouse colony.
• Performs cryo-preservation of mouse embryo /sperm, rederivation of mouse lines (IVF), and cryo-recovery of embryos.
• Keep project information updated in a database.
• Assure effective operation of equipment and availability of required supplies and maintain compliance with all applicable policies and regulations. And perform other duties as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications

• BS in basic science with 6 years of experience or MS in basic science with 4 years of experience (OR)
• Advanced degree (MD or PhD) 2 or more years of experience working in transgenic core facility. Good communication and organization skills, ability to address promptly to variety of requests and needs, sometimes in stressful situations.

Preferred Competencies

• Extensive knowledge in transgenic animal models.
• Proficient microinjection skills.
• Proficient microsurgery skills.
• Experience with of CRISPR gene editing technology.
• Demonstrated expertise in transgenic-related technology and ability to troubleshooting.
• Expertise in cryobiology.
• Small animal handling.
• Exhibited energy and strong desire to achieve.

Job Duties

• Organizes laboratory to which assigned; determines work assignments of subordinates, advising them as to techniques, procedures, and equipment to be utilized in solution of work problems; reviews completed work for professional quality and attainment of desired results.
• Compiles and evaluates research data and develops new or revised techniques and procedures based upon such data.
• Performs or supervises design, development, or adaptation of equipment or apparatus used in experiments or research to obtain desired results.
• Compiles and analyzes results of research assignments and submits to principal investigator.
• Instructs medical students, graduate students, residents, and other laboratory personnel of lower grade with respect to techniques, procedures, and equipment utilized in research or experiments.
• Confers with industrial, governmental, or other professional groups with respect to progress or results of research assignment.
• Assists principal investigator and other professional personnel in preparation of reports and papers for publication, usually exercising responsibility for writing of particular segment or phase of report or paper.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Experience and Education

• Ph.D. with major coursework in field of assignment and no experience required. (OR)
• Master's degree with major coursework in field of assignment and five (5) years of laboratory experience including at least two (2) years at level of Research Associate or equivalent. (OR)
• Bachelor's degree with major coursework in field of assignment and six (6) years of laboratory experience including at least two (2) years at level of Research Associate or   equivalent.