Lab Assistant - 138164

Under supervision, assist with the recruit of patients for the study, coordinate blood sample collection, collection of patient data, perform basic laboratory duties including answering telephones, inventory of lab supplies, receiving lab specimens, and instructing collaborators in lab submissions. Incumbent will assist and support the PI, trainees and technicians in carrying out experiments, making routine analysis and preparing solutions, managing laboratory records. Technical functions include assisting with the preparation of solutions, buffers, and complex reagents, performing immunocytochemistry, cell culture, blood sample analysis, database maintenance, and operating lab equipment. Assist and support supervisor and laboratory personnel in lab organization of specimens and lab procedures/protocols, ordering supplies.

• Graduation from high school or a General Education Diploma and one year of laboratory experience or two years of college including courses in the in the natural, physical or social sciences and two years of laboratory experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Demonstrated experience developing AI/ML models for clinical or biomedical applications, including hands-on work with imaging, omics, biosignals, or electronic health record (EHR) data.

• Experience, measuring and weighing chemicals, preparing solutions and serial dilutions; and knowledge and ability to prepare a variety of reagents, media, and buffers.

• Familiarity with assisting in procedures such as but not limited to, biochemical assay, DNA and RNA extraction and quantification, genotyping, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), sequencing, and mutation screening, cell culture.

• Experience with clinical data pipelines, preprocessing, data standardization, annotation workflows, and handling protected health information (PHI) in compliance with HIPAA.

• Experience with and understanding of basic laboratory equipment.

• Prior experience and knowledge of proper handling, storage and disposal of hazardous materials.

• Proficient with Windows 2000/XP OS and databases with an ability to work with a variety of computer applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Photoshop) and with a willingness and ability to increase skills and knowledge as needed.

• Ability in keeping organized, accurate lab records and computer files.

• Ability to communicate effectively over the telephone with clientele exercising diplomacy.

• Experience in preparing IRB protocols.

• Knowledge of working with patient populations in clinical settings.

• Proficiency working with scientific computing environments, including Linux, high performance computing clusters, or cloud-based compute platforms.

• Work Location - Shiley Eye Center

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check.