Research Assistant

Company Description

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world‑changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

Harvard Medical School's mission is to nurture a diverse, inclusive community dedicated to alleviating suffering and improving health and well‑being for all through excellence in teaching and learning, discovery and scholarship, and service and leadership.

You’ll be at the heart of biomedical discovery, education, and innovation, working alongside world‑renowned faculty and a community dedicated to improving human health. This is more than a job – it’s an opportunity to shape the future of medicine.

The Department of Neurobiology at Harvard Medical School and the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT are hiring a Research Assistant to work in the laboratories of Professor Michael Greenberg (HMS) and Professor Guoping Feng (MIT). Professors Greenberg and Feng are leading a collaborative effort to develop animal models to study the role of neuronal activity in human brain evolution.

Working closely with the PI, lab manager and research team, the Research Assistant will primarily be responsible for:

• Collecting behavioral, cognitive, physiological, and neural data from animals alongside researchers.
• Organizing and annotating the collected data.
• Manually annotating datasets to assist in training neural networks used for analysis.
• Writing and updating animal protocols with the help of the veterinary staff.
• Carrying out molecular biology work related to the characterization of the animals.
• Maintaining and genotyping animal models, performing perfusions, tissue dissection, tissue sectioning, RNA in‑situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry.
• Using a range of molecular biology methods including RT‑PCR, qPCR, molecular cloning, bulk and single‑cell RNA sequencing library preparation and quality control.
• Maintaining and transfecting cell lines used for cell‑based assays.
• Performing stereotactic brain surgeries to deliver viruses for manipulation or knock‑out of genes of interest and further behavioral characterization.
• Participating in regular meetings with team members to discuss research progress and strategies.

This position is ideal for highly organized, motivated, and hard‑working individuals seeking to launch their career as future scientists. The Technical Associate will have the opportunity to design experiments and write code to analyze data if interested. The individual will also be responsible for coordinating schedules between researchers, veterinarians, and staff, and for the care of animals, general experimental support, and data organization.

While prior laboratory experience is helpful, the most important qualities are curiosity, work ethic, organization, the ability to learn new techniques, and an excellent track record in college. We expect to teach the biochemical, molecular biology, and neuroscience approaches used. This is an ideal position for a recent college graduate interested in preparing for graduate or medical school. Members of groups underrepresented in STEM are especially encouraged to apply.

The successful candidate should have a flexible schedule, as this job may require working on weekends.

Research Laboratory setting

Ability to lift 25 lbs above head is necessary.

• At least one year of related work experience (relevant coursework may count towards experience).
• College background or equivalent work experience, preferably in a related discipline.

• A bachelor’s degree in animal sciences, biology, neuroscience, computer science, or a related field preferred.
• Knowledge and experience working with animals is desirable.
• Demonstrated abilities in basic laboratory techniques helpful, but not required.
• Exposure to applicable computer technologies, including specific software applications, may be required.
• Appropriate…