Entry Level Research Associate Jobs

Job Posting Title:

Social Science/Humanities Research Associate I

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Hiring Department:

Department of Psychology

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

Non-Exempt from FLSA

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Earliest Start Date:

Immediately

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue Until Aug 31, 2027

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Location:

UT MAIN CAMPUS

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Job Details:

General Notes

The neuroscience laboratory of Dr. Andrew Gaudet in the Department of Psychology (with joint affiliations with Neurology and Neurosurgery) is recruiting a motivated lab technician. Our lab studies mouse models of spinal cord injury, neuroinflammation, and circadian disruption using behavioral, RNA, protein, and cell culture approaches. The technician will assist with ongoing projects, mouse colony care, and new aspects of the lab. Organizational and social skills will be required, as will skills related to biological techniques. Individuals with previous lab experience will be preferred. Our small team is supportive, productive, and positive. We aim to build a strong team that fosters the professional success of all employees and trainees.

For information on the Gaudet Lab, please visit https://www.gaudetlab.com/

This is a one-year fixed term position.

Responsibilities

• Rodent care and behavior: To perform or assist in managing the mouse colony (genotyping, breeding management, routine weighing and recording animal health, pre- and post-operative care, recording of all experimental procedures, euthanasia when necessary). To perform or assist with projects related to spinal cord injury, circadian rhythms, anxiety/mood disorders, and metabolism. This includes behavioral testing, building of any needed supplies, entering and analyzing data, and maintaining proper functioning of behavioral testing rooms.

• Daily lab management and overseeing experimental procedures:

  To ensure that the lab is in working order. This includes ordering and inventory of all supplies and chemicals, ensuring proper functioning of equipment, and maintaining a tidy/clean lab. To oversee proper disposal of chemicals and act as liaison between lab and Environmental Health and Safety. To ensure current training of all lab personnel. To maintain records for compliance, protocols, and vendor databases. To keep all animal protocols current and updated as required. To manage and oversee experimental timelines for all lab personnel and to ensure accurate and timely recording of experimental procedures in lab notebooks. To ensure all needed supplies for experiments, including experimental lab space, are available in a timely manner.

  The candidate is also expected to participate in regular group meetings and provide updates and progress reports on a weekly basis.

• Perform cellular and molecular studies using established techniques: This includes tissue sectioning (cryostat), immunohistochemistry, and image collection and analysis (microscopy). Other tasks include performing cell culture, qPCR, Western blot, and ELISAs.qPCR, Western blot, and ELISAs.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s in neuroscience, biology, psychology, biochemistry, life sciences, or related fields.

• Laboratory experience.

• Interest in studying biology of the nervous system.

• Ability/interest in using rodent models (mice).

• Reliable, resilient, and organized; methodical.

• Can work independently or in a team.

• Driven to contribute to a developing team.

• Proficiency with Word, PowerPoint, and other Office programs.

• Research laboratory experience; applicants will also be considered if they have demonstrated hands-on precision work with biological samples, live animals, or clinical/surgical procedures.

• Interested and able to learn new techniques.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficiency with one or more of the following skills: immunohistochemistry, rodent brain anatomy, rodent behavioral procedures, confocal microscopy, bright field microscopy, molecular biology.

• Proficiency with literature searches and science writing.

• Experience handling and caring for rodents.

• Master’s degree in neuroscience, biology, psychology, biochemistry, life sciences, or related fields.

Salary Range

$40,000

Working Conditions

• Uniforms and/or personal protection equipment required (furnished)

• May work around standard office conditions

• May work around biohazards

• May work around chemicals

• May work around chemical fumes

• May work around mechanical and electrical hazards

• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation

• Use of manual dexterity

Required Materials

• Resume/CV

• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor

• Letter of interest

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

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Employment Eligibility:

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

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Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

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Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

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Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

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Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

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Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

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E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

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Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.