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Job Title

Research Assistant

Agency

Texas A&M University

Department

Psychology

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

College Station, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

Glimpse of the Job

The Department of Psychology is seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic Research Assistant to join our team. In this pivotal role, you’ll support a research program focused on understanding the neurobiological mechanisms that drive behavior, with a special emphasis on stress and depression. Your day-to-day work will involve a hands-on mix of behavioral testing, maintaining animal models, performing molecular techniques, and assisting with surgical procedures using mice. We’re looking for a detail-oriented, highly motivated individual with a strong work ethic and a genuine passion for scientific discovery. If you're eager to make a meaningful impact in the field of neuroscience and psychology, we encourage you to apply!

Opportunities to Contribute

+ Supervising and mentoring undergraduate student workers in the lab.

+ Collecting, documenting, and maintaining accurate research data and experimental records.

+ Operating and maintaining laboratory equipment, including autoclaves and microscopes.

+ Managing mouse colonies, including breeding, genotyping, and general care.

+ Performing molecular biology techniques such as PCR and gel electrophoresis.

+ Administering compounds, ligands, and drugs to mice.

+ Conducting behavioral tests (e.g., forced swim, splash/groom, sucrose preference, Morris water maze, motoric performance).

+ Implementing the unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) model of depression.

+ Performing intracranial stereotaxic surgeries, perfusions, and tissue collection.

+ Processing and analyzing tissue samples using techniques such as immunohistochemistry, Western blot, ELISA, and PCR.

+ Contributing to a collaborative and supportive lab environment.

Qualifications

+ Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent combination of experience.

A well-qualified candidate will also possess

+ Prior laboratory experience.

+ Experience with technical skills related to the responsibilities listed above (e.g., behavioral testing, molecular techniques, surgical procedures).

+ Strong motoric and fine motor capabilities to manipulate instrument for surgeries on rodents and tissue processing.

+ Ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing.

+ Ability to positively and professionally interact with students.

+ Strong organizational skills.

+ Working knowledge of office software programs.

Salary: Compensation will be commensurate based on the selected hire’s education and experience.

Special Note: This position is funded from grant and/or contract funding, which is renewed through provisions of the grantor of the contract. Therefore, this position is contingent upon continuation of funding from these grants and/or contracts, as well as satisfactory job performance.

What You Need to Do

Apply! Submit a resume/cv and cover letter. These documents will help us with the review process. You may upload these documents on the application under CV/Resume.

Why Texas A&M University?

Texas A&M University is committed to enriching the learning and working environment by promoting a culture that respects all perspectives, talents & lived experiences. Embracing varying opinions and perspectives strengthens our core values (https://www.tamu.edu/about/coreValues.html) which are: Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Selfless Service.

The Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences is engaged in research that falls into all five graduate areas of specialization:

+ Behavioral and Cellular Neuroscience

+ Clinical Psychology

+ Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience Psychology

+ Industrial/Organizational Psychology

+ Social & Personality Psychology

In addition to the Department of Psychological and Brain Science’s 5 areas of specialization, we have overlapping research interests that bridge traditional areas of psychology. These primary research themes include Affective Science; Diversity Science; Neuroscience; Personality and Individual Differences. To learn more please visit our site at https://artsci.tamu.edu/psychological-brain-sciences/index.html

We are a prestigious university with strong traditions, Core Values, and a community of caring and collaboration. Amenities associated with a major university, such as sporting and cultural events, state-of-the-art recreation facilities, the Bush Library and Museum, and much more await you. Experience all that a big city has to offer but with a reasonable cost-of-living and no long commutes.

+ Medical, (https://www.tamus.edu/benefits/medical/) prescription drug, dental, (https://www.tamus.edu/benefits/dental/) vision, life and AD&D, (https://www.tamus.edu/benefits/life-add/) flexible spending accounts, and long-term disability insurance (https://www.tamus.edu/benefits/long-term-disability/) with Texas A&M contributing to employee health and basic life premiums

+ 12-15 days (https://employees.tamu.edu/employee-relations/leave/index.html) of annual paid holidays

+ Up to eight hours of paid sick leave (https://employees.tamu.edu/employee-relations/leave/paid/sick.html) and at least eight hours of paid vacation (https://employees.tamu.edu/employee-relations/leave/paid/vacation.html) each month

+ Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (https://www.trs.texas.gov/Pages/Homepage.aspx)

+ Health and Wellness: Free exercise programs and release time (https://flourish.tamu.edu/wellness-release-time/)

+ Professional Development: All employees have access to free LinkedIn Learning (https://linkedinlearning.tamu.edu/) training, webinars, and limited financial support to attend conferences, workshops, and more

+ Educational release time and tuition assistance (https://livingwell.tamu.edu/employee-tuition-assistance) for completing a degree while a Texas A&M employee

+ Living Well, (https://livingwell.tamu.edu/) a program at Texas A&M that has been built by employees, for employees

Instructions to Applicants: Applications received by Texas A&M University must either have all job application data entered or a resume attached. Failure to provide all job application data or a complete resume could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application. We encourage all applicants to upload a resume’ or use a LinkedIn profile to pre-populate the online application.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.