The Center for Translational Injury Research is a large center performing research in injured patients in a fast-paced environment with a priority on teamwork.

A prestigious medical research program (Neuroimmune Brain Assay Research Program: NIBAR) in Houston is seeking a Research Assistant to join their team. The lab is housed within the Center for Translational Injury Research, Department of Surgery, McGovern Medical School at UT Health. NIBAR has several active research projects focused on implementing Neuroimmune imaging research paradigms to investigate mind body relationships in pain and depression.

A prestigious medical research program (Neuroimmune Brain Assay Research Program: NIBAR) in Houston is seeking a Research Assistant to join their team. The lab is housed within the Center for Translational Injury Research, Department of Surgery, McGovern Medical School at UT Health. NIBAR has several active research projects focused on implementing Neuroimmune imaging research paradigms to investigate mind body relationships in pain and depression.

As a Research Assistant you will work closely with and provide assistance to the PI and Research Coordinator to ensure completion of various projects and provision of data, etc. to the team to facilitate submissions of abstracts, manuscripts, and new grants. You will operate lab equipment, support interaction with human research subjects to complete psychometric measures, process blood samples, store/retrieve/analyze blood samples, record and maintain research data, assist in project report data collection, and assist in recruiting, consenting, enrolling, and scheduling of research participants.

You will work closely with medical and research staff and faculty both inside UT Health and at outside institutions, necessitating excellent communication skills and maintenance of professional behavior. The position will involve working with human urine and blood samples, and being present during MRI and PET scans. You will learn and follow strict safety protocols at all times during your work including (but not limited to) when working with human bio-specimens, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography that utilizes various radiotracers. While your exposure to radio tracers will be very limited (this portion is completed by separate imaging staff) and not place you at significant risk, risks to a developing fetus are less well understood. Consequently, ability to maintain strict adherence to safety protocols will be essential. The position will require walking/driving between various locations within the Texas Medical Center and other local area hospitals. Therefore must have reliable transportation. This position will require walking between buildings while transporting (and potentially lifting into an automobile) wheeled luggage of approximately 30 pounds weight. Ideal candidates should possess a Bachelor's Degree or equivalent laboratory experience.

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:

Under close direction of senior research staff, conducts activities to support research projects.

Position Key Accountabilities:

Under close supervision, conducts research activities according to research protocol. Research activities may include some or all of the following: patient recruiting and screening, traditional laboratory experiments and activities, informatics, field interviewer recruiting, screening and training and/or animal laboratories.

May maintain clean laboratory equipment and/or work area to ensure a safe and efficient work environment.

Collects, evaluates, and interprets research data to provide needed information to principal investigators and other researchers. Updates notebooks, records, and databases as needed.

Stays abreast of new and updated protocols for research department.

Orders laboratory and/or other supplies as directed by senior research staff.

As needed, may coordinate the work of laboratory technicians and assistants to ensure efficient, timely and high quality results.

Complies with all governmental and University policies, rules, regulations, and codes.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Certification/Skills:

General knowledge of research fields.

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree or relevant experience in lieu of education.

Minimum Experience:

No years of experience.

Physical Requirements:

Exerts up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds constantly and/or a negligible amount 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.