JOB DESCRIPTION

Our Commitment
Texas A&M University is committed to enriching the learning and working environment by promoting a culture that respects all pers p ectives, talents & lived experience s . Embracing varying opinions and perspectives strengthens our core values which are: Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Selfless Service .
Who we are
The Veterinary Education, Research, & Outreach ( VER O ) program—a partnership between the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) and the West Texas A&M Univer sity (WT) Paul Engler College of Agriculture & Natural Sciences—was created to increase the number of graduates pursuing large animal and mixed animal medicine and to support Texas’ thriving livestock and food animal industries as well as rural communities in need of veterinary practitioners. VER O also collaborates with the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in teaching, service, research, and faculty hiring. The world-class VER O facility opened in 2021 and is in Canyon, Texas—the heart of the Texas Panhandle.
What we want
The Research Assistant is responsible for assisting with various aspects of ongoing research in the VERO Laboratory. The research assistant will assist and oversee various research activities including DNA extraction, DNA purification/quantification and preparation of sequencing libraries and is expected to be proficient in training students to perform these same techniques and to achieve proficiency in new techniques as needed.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Salary: Compensation will be commensurate to the selected hire’s experience.
Cover Letter/Resume: A co ver letter and resume are strongly recommended .
Location: This position is located in Canyon, TX .

REQUIRED EDUCATION:

• Appropriate Bachelor’s or an equivalent combination of education and experience

REQUIRED SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to reliably perform high-precision, low-volume pipetting
• Ability to multi-task and work cooperatively with others in a team environment
• Demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Maintain meticulous, highly detailed laboratory records
• Must continuously facilitate efforts of co-workers through collaboration, communication, and support

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor of Science degree in a relevant science-related major (e.g., Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Biology)
• Minimum of one year of experience working as an employee in a laboratory where high-precision, low-volume pipetting was required on a frequent/daily basis
• Experience in maintaining meticulous, highly detailed laboratory records
• Experience preparing sequencing libraries for next-generation sequencing, use of sequencing instrumentation, conduct of qPCR assays
• Previous experience working with samples related to agriculture and biology such as feces, respiratory secretions, soil, water, animal feed, and food products (e.g., meat)

PREFERRED SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Skills in various molecular biology techniques, especially those related to high-throughput genomic sequencing
• Ability to conduct research activities related to microbiology and microbial ecology, particularly microbiome-related research
• Knowledge of agriculture and/or food production systems
• Ability to learn new laboratory protocols and train others to use these protocols
• Ability to effectively validate and troubleshoot laboratory protocols
• Ability to simultaneously work on multiple projects, appropriately prioritizing work to meet assigned deadlines

• Laboratory Activities: Process samples of varied types in preparation for analysis with molecular biological techniques. Perform DNA/RNA extractions and relate procedures, such as purification, and quantification. Prepare samples for next-generation sequencing. Operate various laboratory equipment, including: Covaris, TapeStation, Qubit, QiaCube, pipetting robots, autoclave, centrifuge. Conduct qPCR assays. Achieve proficiency with laboratory protocols, troubleshoot problems as needed. Learn and implements new lab protocols, including assisting in development and validation of novel procedures as needed.
• Other Research Activities and Support: Work collaboratively with other lab members to meet team goals and deadlines, facilitating seamless integration of team members activities on a daily basis. Assure that samples are properly stored, organized, and inventoried. Maintain supply inventories, identifying and ordering materials when need. Ensure that lab is meticulously clean and organized. Implement best molecular biology practices to ensure highest quality results. Assist with project management and planning for lab work. Assist and oversees various research activities as directed by supervisor. Train other lab members to perform laboratory techniques. Assist with sample collection and processing as required.
• Data/Project Management: Work collaboratively with team members in the planning and conduct of research activities to meet team goals and deadlines. Maintain meticulous laboratory records. Create and maintain inventories for various projects. Support data entry and project management by team members.
• Communications: Communicate with supervisor and other team members on a daily basis to ensure successful completion of laboratory research, compliance with protocols, and selection of best troubleshooting approaches. Develop written laboratory protocols and standard operating procedures as needed and update to ensure uniformity of lab work. Assist with report preparation as required.