Research Assistant

Job Description

Job Title:                   Research Assistant

Location: Royal College of Surgeons campus at St. Stephen’s Green

Reporting To:            Principal Investigator or nominee

Purpose: To provide support to the epilepsy research programme within the Department of Physiology & Medical Physics

Person specification: The person fulfilling this role should have experience of working in a research laboratory with a background in animal handling and biochemistry, good organizational skills, good record keeping, and ability to learn and apply new techniques.

The main research programme of the group is to investigate the molecular mechanisms of seizure-induced brain injury & epilepsy development. Specific duties of this post will include:

• Organizing and maintaining/breeding various colonies of genetically-modified animals
• Performing genotyping, small animal & minor surgical work
• Performing tissue preparation and analysis for histology
• Performing routine biochemical procedures including PCR and Western blotting
• Compiling and analyzing basic data
• Performing general lab management duties such as stock taking, ordering and invoicing

General duties will include:

• Participating in the research programmes of the Department
• Ensuring that all RCSI policies and procedures are adhered to.
• Complying with statutory legislation and Department rules and requirements in furtherance of your own and general staff welfare and safety
• Undergoing programmes of training and development as may be required from time to time
• Representing the best interests of the Department/RCSI at all times
• Performing such other duties as may be required from time to time.

Person Specification

• MSc in molecular biology or similar.

• Experience in two or more of the following areas are required:

• Molecular aspects of neuroscience
• DNA & RNA extraction & analysis (qPCR)
• Protein chemistry (western blotting, immunohistochemistry)
• Microscopy
• Cell culture
• Lab management, good organization and good language skills

• Ambition, initiative, technical ability and willingness to work in collaborative fashion with the research group.

Salary: €21,947 to € 28,000 based on experience

Appointment: This post is available from November 2013 for a period of two years