New

Student Assistant

Rutgers University

United States, New Jersey, Piscataway

Jan 16, 2025

Position Details

Position Information

Recruitment/Posting Title	Student Assistant
Job Category	Staff & Executive - Research Support (Laboratory/Non-Laboratory)
Department	RWJ-RINTS
Overview	New Jersey's academic health center, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences ( RBHS) takes an integrated approach to educating students, providing clinical care, and conducting research, all with the goal of improving human health. Aligned with Rutgers University-New Brunswick and collaborating university wide, RBHS includes eight schools, a behavioral health network, and six centers and institutes that focus on cancer treatment and research, neuroscience, clinical and translational research, advanced biotechnology and medicine, environmental and occupational health, and health care policy and aging research. Our faculty are teachers, clinicians, and scientists with unparalleled experience who advance medical innovation and provide patient care informed by the latest research findings. We offer an outstanding education in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, public health, nursing, biomedical research, and the full spectrum of allied health careers. Our clinical and academic facilities are located throughout the state including New Brunswick, Piscataway, Newark, Scotch Plains, Somerset, Blackwood, and other locations. Clinical partners include Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, University Hospital in Newark, and other affiliates. Through this community of healers, scientists, and scholars, Rutgers is equipped as never before to transform lives.
Posting Summary	Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is seeking a Student Assistant for the department of Neurology at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. The mission of the lab is to follow a network-based approach to understand the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases (mainly Parkinson's disease and secondarily Alzheimer's disease), with the ultimate aim being to utilize this strategy to develop combination treatments. This strategy distinguishes our lab from a decades-long tradition in the field of zeroing in on specific genes and focusing on the development of monotherapies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Simultaneously, the lab aspires to remain at the cutting edge in terms of cellular and molecular biology techniques and to advance the neurodegeneration field by developing innovative tools and technologies that we will share with the research community. To achieve those goals, we are currently using mammalian cell lines (including stable cell lines) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSc) as model systems, as well as human brain tissue. In the future, and as our research program advances, we will expand our toolkit to also include mouse work and computational analyses of large -omics datasets. Some of the techniques we use include standard cell and molecular biology techniques, flow cytometry, microscopy (standard imaging and FRET, FLIM, FRAP), high throughput genetic and chemical screens, single cell and spatial transcriptomics, proteomics, lipidomics, genomics, optogenetics and histology. This position will work for a) pure wet lab roles, b) hybrid wet lab and bioinformatics roles, c) pure computational roles. The position will work independently under the direction of the Principal Investigator and have a good understanding of the techniques used in the lab. Under the direction of the Principal Investigator the position will work on a project in a laboratory dedicated to studying the molecular pathogenesis of Parkinson's Disease, identifying therapeutic targets and testing new therapeutic agents. This position will work in a new lab as part of a highly integrated research team utilizing a variety of laboratory technologies and approaches. Among the key duties of this position are the following: Carries out studies with cultured cell lines and iPSc derived neurons. Optimizes assays to model and study specific disease processes of neurodegenerative diseases and miniaturize them to enable high throughput screens. Performs high throughput genetic and chemical screens. Performs proteomics, lipidomics, genomics and transcriptomics experiments and analyses, in collaboration with core facilities at Rutgers. Undertakes histology, genetics and biochemistry experiments on human neuropathological materials. Performs molecular biology experiments that involve cloning of specific cDNAs in various vectors including viral vectors, PCR, sequence analyses, transcription assays, Western blotting, DNA-protein interaction, and cell biologic studies. Undertakes bioinformatics analyses of imaging, genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics data, as well as statistical analyses of biological data and any other types of analyses that might arise.
Position Status	Per Diem
Hours Per Week
Daily Work Shift
Work Arrangement	This position requires a fully on-site work arrangement.
FLSA	Nonexempt
Grade	99H
Position Salary	Minimum Wage
Annual Minimum Salary
Annual Mid Range Salary
Annual Maximum Salary
Standard Hours	35.00
Union Description	Non-Union
Payroll Designation	PeopleSoft
Benefits	Rutgers offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees. For details, please go to http://uhr.rutgers.edu/benefits/benefits-overview.
Seniority Unit
Terms of Appointment	Temporary Staff Appointment - Hourly
Position Pension Eligibility

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience	Applicants for the wet lab position must have undertaken coursework in biology, chemistry, biochemistry and related disciplines. Previous research experience is required.
Certifications/Licenses
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities	To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily; however, appropriate training will be provided as needed, and Rutgers has multiple core facilities with expertise in some of the lab's techniques and can assist as necessary. It is expected that the incumbent has relevant research experience and can work independently under the direction of the principal investigator. Techniques that will be used include DNA/RNA extraction, qPCR, Gel electrophoresis, cell line iPSc-neuron cultures, Fluorescence and Confocal microscopy and associated imaging analysis and Western blotting. The incumbent of this position should also be able to operate standard laboratory equipment such as centrifuges, culture hoods, incubators, PCR machines, shaking incubators and plate readers. For individuals to be considered for hybrid wet lab and computational positions, proficient coding skills in python, MATLAB and R are essential, as well as experience in analyzing biological imaging data. Basic skills in Microsoft Office Excel, Word and Powerpoint are expected by all individuals.
Preferred Qualifications	Robust experience in coding, in particular with Python, as well as the ability to undertake basic coding projects independently with some guidance from the PI. Experience in wet lab experience.
Equipment Utilized
Physical Demands and Work Environment	Physical Demands: The incumbent needs to be physically capable of performing the above duties, including pipetting, measuring weights and volumes accurately, standing on feet and walking to other buildings on the campus. Occasionally, certain heavy items in the laboratory may need to be lifted, such as small equipment, boxes and bottles. H/She should communicate his/her research plans and findings verbally and in writing in proper English to the team and to the scientific community in presentations and publications. Work Environment: Lab environment. Moderate noise.
Special Conditions

Posting Details

Posting Number	25ST0111
Posting Open Date
Special Instructions to Applicants
Regional Campus	Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS)
Home Location Campus	Piscataway (RBHS)
City	Piscataway
State	NJ
Location Details

Pre-employment Screenings

All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of all pre-employment screenings.

Immunization Requirements

Under Policy 100.3.1 Immunization Policy for Covered Individuals, if employment will commence during Flu Season, Rutgers University may require certain prospective employees to provide proof that they are vaccinated against Seasonal Influenza for the current Flu Season, unless the University has granted the individual a medical or religious exemption. Additional infection control and safety policies may apply. Prospective employees should speak with their hiring manager to determine which policies apply to the role or position for which they are applying. Failure to provide proof of vaccination for any required vaccines or obtain a medical or religious exemption from the University will result in rescission of a candidate's offer of employment or disciplinary action up to and including termination.

Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

It is university policy to provide equal employment opportunity to all its employees and applicants for employment regardless of their race, creed, color, national origin, age, ancestry, nationality, marital or domestic partnership or civil union status, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, disability status, liability for military service, protected veteran status, affectional or sexual orientation, atypical cellular or blood trait, genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing), or any other category protected by law. As an institution, we value diversity of background and opinion, and prohibit discrimination or harassment on the basis of any legally protected class in the areas of hiring, recruitment, promotion, transfer, demotion, training, compensation, pay, fringe benefits, layoff, termination or any other terms and conditions of employment. For additional information please see the Non-Discrimination Statement at the following web address: http://uhr.rutgers.edu/non-discrimination-statement