Research Assistant

Testing & Lab Operations

Perform assays: Execute neutralizing antibody (nAb) and total antibody assays on clinical (human) and non-clinical (animal/cell) samples.

Cell culture: Maintain cell lines required for live-virus or pseudovirus neutralization assays.

Pipetting: Handle high-throughput manual pipetting

Reagent prep: Formulate buffers, cell culture media, and assay reagents according to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Quality Control & Compliance

CLIA standards: Maintain strict adherence to CLIA, GCLP, and OSHA safety standards.

Run validations: Execute positive and negative controls for every assay batch to ensure data validity.

Instrument calibration: Clean, calibrate, and maintain microplate readers, incubators, and biosafety cabinets.

Documentation: Complete precise batch records, sample logs, and equipment maintenance sheets.

Sample & Data Management

Sample receipt: Accession, aliquot, and track clinical serum or plasma samples using a LIMS system.

Inventory control: Track expiration dates and stock levels of critical assay components like reference standards.

Data extraction: Collect raw data (e.g., fluorescence, or absorbance) from plate readers.

Preliminary analysis: Calculate neutralization titers (like IC50/EC50) and total antibody concentrations for review by the Lab Director.

Biosafety & Waste

Biosafety containment: Work safely within Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) or BSL-3 environments depending on the virus type.

Waste management: Neutralize and dispose of biohazardous liquid and solid waste according to regulations.

Requirements

5+ years of experience.

Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in related field. Master's in related field preferred.

Experience with Microsoft office suite.

LIMS experience is required. Experience with LabVantage is preferred.

Experience in a CLIA or regulated laboratory required.

Experience working with immunological assays.

Experience with ELISA is strongly preferred.