ob Description:
Ethan Anderson, Ph.D. is seeking a highly motivated candidate to fill a full-time Research Associate 1 position to study alcohol use disorder and substance use disorder, more commonly known as alcoholism and drug addiction. The Anderson Lab utilizes various molecular and behavioral approaches to develop a better understanding of addiction and escalated drug/alcohol abuse. Laboratory techniques to be performed may include, but are not limited to, 1) animal behavior testing and husbandry (mice and/or rats), 2) survival surgeries, 3) dissection/tissue collection, and 4) various wet lab assays. The ideal candidate must have a strong work ethic, analytical skills, the motivation to learn new techniques, be able to work independently, to work with rodents, a high degree of comfort with scientific methodology, and strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Job Responsibilities

50%- Responsible for monitoring animal behavior and care for mice and/or rats. This includes measuring alcohol drinking levels to model chronic alcohol use and binge drinking in humans. Other behaviors like rodent self-administration of addictive drugs, sucrose pellet self-administration, and anxiety will also be measured. This job may also includes administering novel pharmacological compounds that can reduce alcohol drinking and/or drug-related behaviors.

30%- Responsible for wet laboratory techniques involving dissections/tissue preparation. These include examining the effects on brain tissue. In addition, wet lab assays like western blotting, qPCR, and PCR will be used to assess the function of these compounds and or geneotype transgenic mice.

20%- Responsible for daily collecting and analyzing data, and reporting on activities. This job includes data entry into excel. In addition, this person will report on these findings to Dr. Anderson at regularly scheduled intervals to discuss progress. These may include individual meetings and lab meetings. Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in related field.

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor's in biomedical sciences and one or more (1+) years of experience in wet labs and working with animals. PCR and Western blot experience. Previous rodent experience.

Special or Physical Qualifications

Safety and Security Sensitive Job - Safety and security-sensitive positions are defined as those positions where any form of substance abuse may affect University activities through unsafe work behavior/performance or error in judgment; or where substance abuse could jeopardize the safety and well-being of employees, other personnel, or the general public, or cause significant damage to University property. This includes positions requiring firearms, access to controlled substances, handling hazardous material, operating heavy equipment or machinery, etc. These positions are subject to drug screens per PS-67/FASOP HR-04.

Essential Personnel - This position may be required to report to campus in times of emergency and/or closure per PS-18.

Daily work with animals is required, this involved movements like loading and unloading animals into behavioral equipment, handling mice for injections, etc. With much additional training, it could also involve surgeries under full anesthesia in mice and/or rats.

This position may require working outside of LSU's standard operating hours.

Requires standing, sitting, walking, bending, reaching (above shoulder), reaching (below shoulder), vision (near sight), vision (far sight), crawling, twisting, pushing/pulling, grasping, climbing, squatting, and lifting less than 50 pounds.