Summary

Baylor College of Medicine, in partnership with the Department of Pediatric Surgery at Texas Children’s Hospital, is seeking a Research Assistant II to support research focused on fetal lung development and congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).

The Research Assistant II will manage the day-to-day operations of research projects and provide support to the Principal Investigator (PI) on both ongoing and newly initiated studies. This role offers the opportunity to develop specialized laboratory and research skills, collaborate with experienced investigators, and contribute to meaningful scientific discoveries while supporting the College’s research mission in a collaborative and supportive work environment.

Job Duties

Research Support & Coordination 
• Order and manage laboratory consumables, and help track budgets and vendor relationships for lab supplies and equipment
• Coordinate and organize analyses of human and fetal rabbit lung specimens
• Organize and manage resulting experimental data, including maintaining shared file structures and data logs for the lab
• Communicate project goals and strategies clearly with PI
• Support on boarding of new lab personnel (e.g., orienting incoming research trainees to lab protocols, equipment, and workflows)
• Help coordinate day-to-day lab logistics (scheduling of shared equipment, supply reordering cycles, basic compliance/safety documentation) in support of the PI

Tissue Culture
• Maintain and establish primary human neonatal alveolar epithelial cell cultures (AT1/AT2) using sterile technique, including air-liquid interface (ALI) trans-differentiation protocols
• Determine cell counts and cell viability using microscope and hemocytometer
• Monitor, order, and stock tissue culture supplies
• Establish short-term cell cultures from human or fetal rabbit lung tissue
• Perform basic cell biology, immunology, and in vitro cell growth and proliferation assays, including cyclic stretch assays (e.g., Flexcell system)

Ex Vivo & Tissue Model Work
• Complete training and certification for safe handling of human and animal-derived tissue specimens
• Prepare and maintain fetal rabbit lung tissue for precision-cut lung slice (PCLS) studies
• Work safely within a BSL2 environment
• Monitor tissue viability and specimen quality
• Handle acids, polyacrylamide, flammable materials, and biohazards according to OSHA and institutional guidelines
• Coordinate occasional off-hours support to maintain continuity of time-sensitive stretch or tissue-viability experiments

Laboratory Maintenance 
• Maintain and update inventory of tissue specimens, reagents, and lab equipment (e.g., Flexcell, incubators, Leica imaging system)
• Record detailed written reports of experimental data and protocols
• Maintain clean, safe laboratory work areas and ensure equipment is functioning properly, coordinating service/calibration as needed
• Follow written equipment operation instructions and manuals
• Perform other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a Basic Science or a related field. 
• Three years of relevant experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in a basic science or related field.
• Experience performing RNA/DNA extraction and/or PCR
• Experience with flow cytometry
• Experience with cell culture of primary human tissue and/or air-liquid interface systems
• Experience with biologic and biochemical assays including western blot, qpcr, sequencing prep
• Familiarity with Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS)
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently within defined protocols, make sound operational decisions, and help keep day-to-day lab operations running smoothly