Research Assistant

Description

The University of Iowa Health Care is looking for a Research Assistant (RA) to support the Geerling laboratory mission of investigating neural circuits that control homeostatic functions, including sodium appetite, thirst, hunger, arousal, gut motility, autonomic control, and neuroendocrine control. This position includes opportunities to help develop new experimental methods and to run experiments using established protocols, including stereotactic brain surgeries and implants in mice, pharmacologic injections and infusions in mice, and a variety of behavioral, histologic, physiologic, and chemical assays. Additional duties include data analysis and microscopy using established lab protocols, with the opportunity to help develop new analytic approaches.

The RA is expected to acknowledge and respond to all requests and communication (email, phone, etc.) in a timely fashion (typically within the same business day). This position occasionally requires attention and work outside of typical business hours for time-sensitive tasks, including experimental work with mice, correspondence with the PI, journals, colleagues, university staff, NIH representatives, and others.

Research communication

• Meets with PI weekly (on average) and sometimes daily to monitor and support progress.
• Communicates promptly with OAR, IACUC, the PI, and others whenever questions arise.
• Communicates pertinent details to PI independently and in a timely manner.
• Proposes and follows through in meeting with PI regarding research ideas, questions, updates, and progress and completion of milestones in the progression toward project/paper/grant completion.
• Prepares for and actively participates in weekly Geerling lab meetings and monthly joint meetings between the Resch and Geerling labs

Experiments, Investigations, Evaluations

• Performs high quality transcardial perfusions of experimental mice.
• Performs brain dissections, formalin fixation, and sucrose cryoprotection of brain.
• Performs brain tissue sectioning on a freezing-stage microtome (or cryostat or paraffin microtome).
• Performs immunofluorescence and immunohistochemical staining of tissue sections.
• Performs Nissl counterstaining, tissue dehydration and clearing.
• Labels mRNA in tissue using protocols for RNAscope fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and DAB in situ hybridization (ISH).
• Mounts tissue sections and coverslipping glass slides.
• Clearly documents all steps for all protocols, including dates, times, chemical numbers, lot numbers, etc.
• Performs timely, high-quality tissue imaging (epifluorescence and brightfield) on a whole-slide-scanning microscope, laser-scanning confocal microscope, or light-sheet microscope). Focuses, reviews, and rescans parts of slides as needed. Saves and organizes microscope imaging files with all key metadata included.
• Communicates with PI about necessary cases, magnification, and types of imaging required for each experiment.
• Communicates with PI and other Geerling lab staff about experimental plans, mouse needs, reagent needs, equipment use, and any other practical matters in a timely matter so that reproducible, rigorous experiments can proceed with maximum efficiency.

Collect, Analyze, and Summarize Data; Prepare Reports; Contribute to Manuscripts, Publications

• Keeps well-organized laboratory task list and separate, formal laboratory notebooks that are compliant with UIowa and NIH/federal requirements (including dates and times, animal details, surgical anesthesia, experimental details, stapled or taped datasheets, etc.)
• Plots, counts, and analyzes cells, axons, and other tissue elements in digital microscope images from brain tissue using qPath, OlyVIA, Adobe Illustrator, ImageJ, Python, R, and other lab software.
• Presents results in slide-format at weekly lab meetings.
• Drafts and edits text, tables, graphs, and figures for scientific publications.
• Assists PI and other lab members in preparation of graphs, charts, tables, and figure-panels for grant applications and manuscripts, when needed.
• Author and co-author publication-quality manuscripts for submission to high-impact, peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Compliance, Laboratory Safety, and Administrative Lab Management

• Maintains lab compliance with all IACUC, OAR, EHS, DEA, and all other University, state, and federal regulations.
• Under supervision and input from PI, drafts and enters basic personnel info and technical lab data into simple IACUC protocol amendments.
• Assists other lab staff in drafting and updating other laboratory protocols.
• Assists in developing, updating, and teaching new protocols.
• Monitors and communicates schedule changes to PI and lab staff.

Facilities and Equipment Management

• Communicates promptly with departmental and University purchasing contacts, as well as vendors, when needed.
• Helps receive and confirm deliveries and helps others in the lab troubleshoot any inaccuracies
• Save and archive all reagent, MSDS, purchasing, and shipping forms.
• Aliquots, labels, and cold-stores AAVs and other biological/chemical reagents, when needed.
• Contributes to and takes responsibility for plastic and glassware dishwashing.
• Cleans and sterilizes surgical instruments, implants, and equipment before and after each use.

Pay Grade: 3A -

Percent of Time: 100%

Please note: This is a specified term position that will last 12 months. An extension may be reviewed after the initial 12 months but is not guaranteed.

Qualifications

Education Requirements

• A bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience. A degree in neuroscience, biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, engineering, or medicine is preferred.

Experience Requirements

• Excellent interpersonal skills and abilities to communicate (written and spoken) effectively with coworkers, collaborators, supervisors, vendors, and other colleagues.
• Ability to work efficiently and productively with a multidisciplinary team (e.g., undergraduate and graduate students, medical students and residents, postdoctoral fellows, clinician-scientists).
• Evidence of dedication to completing tasks and willingness to work at agreed upon times.
• Eagerness to seize opportunities for innovation, experimental productivity, and publication
• Initiative to find new ways of maximizing efficiency, innovation, and productivity
• Previous experience with Microsoft Office and basic computer graphics software like FIJI/Photoshop. Some experience with vector-based graphic design tools (e.g., Illustrator, Canvas, or Inkscape) and with basic programming languages (Python, R) is preferred.

Desired Qualifications

• Solid foundation of basic biology, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, and neuroscience knowledge
• 1+ years of experience in a research/laboratory setting.
• Experience with engineering or coding.
• Strong work ethic and analytic abilities

Please attach a resume as part of the application process. Job openings are posted for a minimum of 7 calendar days. This job may be removed from posting and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. Up to five (5) professional references may be requested at a later point in the recruitment.

If your H-1B petition is subject to the September 19, 2025, Presidential Proclamation, please note that the department will not cover the $100,000 payment associated with H-1B sponsorship, either at the time of hire or for international travel purposes. We encourage you to explore alternative pathways for work authorization. Our team is available to help identify options that may be suitable for your situation.

Please direct questions to Lilli Wulff at View email address on click.appcast.io.