The primary purpose of the Research Assistant II position is to carry out specific experiments designed to improve the functional understanding of processes involved in early and late pancreatic carcinogenesis. This may include the implementation of protocols as they relate to specimens obtained from human pancreatic cancer patients and genetically engineered mouse models (cell lines, tissues), isolation of 2D, 3D/organoid cell lines, functional in vitro and in vivo assays.

CORE VALUES

Caring Behaviors

· Courtesy: Is respectful and courteous to each other at all times.

· Friendliness/Teamwork: Promotes and rewards teamwork and inclusiveness; is sensitive to the concerns of our patients and our co-workers.

Integrity Behaviors

· Reliability: Communicates frequently, honestly and openly.

· Accountability: Holds self and others accountable for practicing our values.

· Safety: Models safe behavior (wears badge and personal protective equipment, washes hands, and keeps work area clean and orderly); Notices a safety concern or emergency, understands role and uses proper procedures to report it; Mitigates risk to the institution through sound business practices; Demonstrates ethical and personal responsibility in work and behavior

Discovery Behaviors

· Responsiveness: By his/her actions, creates an environment of trust; Encourages learning, creativity and new ideas.

· Personal Leadership/Self-Initiative: Helps others to identify and solve problems; Seeks personal growth and enables others to do so.

JOB SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES

Laboratory Technical Function
Experience with blood processing and library preparation pipelines.
i. Liquid biopsy
a. Isolates plasma and PBMCs from whole blood.
b. Isolates and stores extracellular vesicles and plasma DNA.
c. Annotates and stores of isolated analytes.
d. Performs RNA isolation from plasma and depletion of globin and ribosomal
RNA.
e. Performs library preparation from plasma derived RNA and DNA.
f. FFPE and FF tissue processing and storage

ii. Tissue processing
a. Receives, processes and store human tissue specimens
b. Performs tissue dissociation
c. Performs tissue sectioning and H&E staining
d. Assists graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in various molecular biology
assays such as; multiplex immunofluorescence, DNA, RNA and protein isolation
and western blots
e. Maintains pancreatic cancer cell lines using sterile technique. Extract protein lysates,
DNA and RNA from cells.

iii. Multiomic analyses of tissue samples
a. Performs library preparation for spatial transcriptomics using the 10X genomics platform.
b. Performs multiplex immunofluorescence assays such as COMET, OPAL and IMC.

Laboratory Maintenance
• Assumes shared responsibility for general laboratory maintenance by
a) maintaining procedures and protocols that ensure the quality and integrity of procedures performed,
b) performing record keeping to promote accountability and integrity in research,
c) monitoring work flow as it pertains to the need for supplies, equipment maintenance and preparation of stock solutions,
d) keeping ample stock of supplies on hand and performs periodic inventory to check stock supplies,
e) following up on orders to ensure organization and accessibility of all reagents.
• Maintains an excellent working knowledge of all basic laboratory equipment and apparatus.
• Maintains Lab Functions to include ordering of supplies and ensures lab equipment is maintained in good operating order.

Other duties as assigned

Bachelor's degree with major course works in one of the basic sciences. One year experience in scientific or experimental research work. No experience required with preferred degree. It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. http://www.mdanderson.org/about-us/legal-and-policy/legal-statements/eeo-affirmative-action.html