Research Scientist/Sr. Research Scientist - Pediatric Surgery lab

Research Scientist, or Senior Research Scientist.Program in Children's Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pediatric Surgery, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth HoustonAddress:6431 Fannin Street, MSB 5.254, Houston, TX 77030

The lab is a dynamic and rapidly growing research group focused on developing novel regenerative medicine strategies for intestinal failure, including tissue-engineered intestine and cell-based therapies. We leverage human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) to generate human intestinal organoids (HIOs) for both in vitro and in vivo models, investigating critical aspects of enteric nervous system development and developing cell-based therapies for enteric neuropathies. Our lab is currently supported by both a K08 and an R01 grant, fueling exciting new projects and expanding our team. As part of the vibrant Program in Children's Regenerative Medicine, you'll join a stimulating research community with state-of-the-art basic laboratory, tissue-engineering, and cGMP facilities. The Program boasts 9 faculty and 14 research team members in non-clinical laboratory research, with faculty having been awarded over $15 million as Principal Investigators.

Position Summary:We are seeking a highly motivated Research Scientist/Senior Research Scientist to join our innovative team. This exciting opportunity involves planning, conducting, and directing a wide variety of cutting-edge experiments aimed at advancing regenerative medicine for intestinal failure. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in shaping research project direction and outcomes. Must have the ability and experience of performing survival surgery on rodents.

Considerable knowledge in basic and sophisticated equipment. Advanced knowledge of concepts of the assigned research field.

What we do here changes the world. UTHealth Houston is Texas’ resource for healthcare education, innovation, scientific discovery, and excellence in patient care. That’s where you come in.

Once you join us you won't want to leave. It’s because we reward our team for the excellent service they provide. Our total rewards package includes the benefits you’d expect from a top healthcare organization (benefits, insurance, etc.), plus:

• 100% paid medical premiums for our full-time employees
• Generous time off (holidays, preventative leave day, both vacation and sick time – all of which equates to around 37-38 days per year)
• The longer you stay, the more vacation you’ll accrue!
• Longevity Pay (Monthly payments after two years of service)
• Build your future with our awesome retirement/pension plan!

We take care of our employees! As a world-renowned institution, our employees’ wellbeing is important to us. We offer work/life services such as...

• Free financial and legal counseling
• Free mental health counseling services
• Gym membership discounts and access to wellness programs
• Other employee discounts including entertainment, car rentals, cell phones, etc.
• Resources for child and elder care
• Plus many more!

Position Summary:

Plans, supervises, and directs research, investigation, or other technical operations. Provides technical expertise to facilitate the design, implementation, and analysis of procedures, techniques, and results, which enables investigators to conduct research projects.

Position Key Accountabilities:

1. Determines feasibility of possible projects to ensure results will have a significant impact. Determines project feasibility in terms of staff, time, and resources.
2. Plans and performs quantitative and qualitative research procedures in various areas of biology, chemistry, physics, and other biomedical, dental, or related scientific areas. Identifies the problem through contact with other researchers, practicing physicians, or literature searches. Formulates a problem or project to research. Designs procedures to solve the problem.
3. Conducts experiments using advanced equipment and applying complex techniques. Procedures may include tissue culture, protein purification, enzyme purification, enzyme assays, membrane protein purification, monoclonal antibody analysis, cytogenic analysis, gel electrophoresis, immunoelectrophoresis, immunofluorescent method, radioimmunoassays, biometry, biofeedback, neurotransmitter analysis, biospectrometry, microtomy, liquid, gas and thin layer chromatography, microspectrophotometry, tissue processing, tissue staining, behavioral testing, anesthetic dosage, neurohistochemistry, animal surgery, immunochemistry, gel electrophoresis, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) testing, electron microscopy, and biophysical assays and measurements.
4. Designs experimental procedures, which may involve examining new techniques, that may improve existing analysis and provide additional capabilities.
5. Evaluates the data from the analysis.
6. Presents results in a written paper for publication, in a presentation at a meeting, or through personal contact with faculty members and other researchers.
7. Maintains lab equipment, assists in necessary repairs, and promotes a safe laboratory environment. Ensures direct reports follow safety procedures and attends basic safety training courses.
8. Provides work direction and guidance to personnel within department. May lead projects and activities.
9. Performs other duties as assigned.

Preference:

1. PhD, or MD/PhD degree.
2. Strong background in molecular biology (PCR, RT-qPCR, Western blot, RNAseq, scRNAseq, IHC) with experience and/or interest in translational research, regenerative medicine, enteric nervous system, neurogastroenterology, intestinal biology, gastroenterology, developmental biology, and/or tissue-engineering.
3. Demonstrated expertise in rodent surgery (mice and/or rats), including performing numerous survival surgeries such as transplantation of human intestinal organoids and surgical manipulations of these in vivo transplanted human intestinal organoids with either anastomosis to the native rodent intestine or the implantation of a spring device for distraction enterogenesis.
4. Experience in aseptic cell culture techniques (experience with maintenance of hPSCs, generation and characterization of hPSCs, and/or directed differentiation of hPSCs into intestine or neural crest cells is a plus).
5. Experience with optical microscopy (brightfield and fluorescent), and confocal microscopy.
6. Experience with Ussing chamber or organ bath contractility studies a plus.
7. Motivated and able to conduct independent research without supervision.
8. Ability to work effectively in teams with strong interpersonal skills and excellent communication.
9. Impeccable record-keeping skills and outstanding organization are required.

Certification/Skills:

None.

Minimum Education:

Doctorate Degree.

Minimum Experience:

Two (2) years of experience in a related research environment and have verifiable publications within the field of the research project.

Physical Requirements:

Exerts up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.
This position may include work involving potentially hazardous chemical, biological or radioactive agents.

Security Sensitive:

This position is a security-sensitive position pursuant to Texas Education Code §51.215 and Texas Government Code §411.094. To the extent that a position requires the holder to research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Texas Business and Commerce Code §117.001(2), the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure is a minimum qualification to be hired for and to continue to be employed in that position. Personnel in such positions, and similarly situated state contractors, will be routinely reviewed to determine whether things such as criminal history or continuous connections to the government or political apparatus of a foreign adversary might prevent the applicant, employee, or contractor from being able to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure. A foreign adversary is a nation listed in 15 C.F.R. §791.4.

Residency Requirement:

Employees must permanently reside and work in the State of Texas.