Research Assistant

Research Assistant

We are currently seeking a self-motivated and highly organized research assistant to support the lab of Dr. Price E. Dickson at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University in Huntington, WV. The Dickson Laboratory investigates the genetic drivers of drug addiction using the following approaches: Behavioral neuroscience, behavioral genetics, systems genetics, recombinant inbred mouse panels, operant conditioning, intravenous drug self-administration, machine learning approaches for analysis of mouse behavior, omics approaches including bulk, single-cell, and spatial RNA-seq, bioinformatics analysis of omics data, calcium imaging techniques including fiber photometry and miniaturized microscopes.

Principal Responsibilities: Behavioral testing of mice, learning and implementing surgical techniques in the laboratory mouse including intravenous jugular catheterization and stereotaxic surgery, maintaining a colony of experimental mice (~200 cages), tissue harvesting and preparation of tissue samples for sequencing, wet lab techniques, cryostat techniques, coordinating these tasks with a team of technicians, doctoral students, and research scientists.

Location - MUSOM - Marshall University School of Medicine

Salary Range - Salary is commensurate with experience and internal equity

Required Qualifications: Education - Bachelor's degree in neuroscience, psychology, biology, or a related field. Experience - No required work experience

Preferred Qualifications: Education - A master's degree would be beneficial but is not required. Experience - Research experience using mice or rats, previous experience with one or more of the techniques used in Dr. Dickson's laboratory, building and troubleshooting computer workstations in both Windows and Linux environments, LLM-facilitated computer programming in Python or R, computer aided design and manufacturing in aluminum and plastic using the following tools: Fusion 360, CNC router, lathe, 3D printer.

Posting Detail Information: Posting Number - MR0885, Open Date - 07/23/2026, Close Date, Open Until Filled - Yes

Special Instructions Summary - Application Instructions: Résumé or CV emphasizing prior research experience, cover letter that touches briefly on your background, your interest in this position, and why you think you would be an ideal fit.

Supplemental Questions: Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

1. * Do you have a Bachelor's degree in neuroscience, psychology, biology, or a related field?
   • Yes
   • No

Applicant Documents: Required Documents: Cover Letter, CV or Resume. Optional Documents.