Research Assistant in Portland, Oregon at Oregon Health & Science University

Research Assistant

US-OR-Portland

Requisition ID: 2026-40812
Position Category: Research
Job Type: Research
Position Type: Regular Full-Time
Posting Department: Vollum Institute - Yang Lab
Posting Salary Range: $48,214 - $68,681 per year, with offer based on experience, education and internal equity
Posting FTE: 1.00
Posting Schedule: Monday - Friday, flexible with some evenings/weekends as experiments demand
Posting Hours: 9:00am - 5:00pm, flexible with some evenings/weekends
HR Mission: Research
Drug Testable: No

Department Overview
The Vollum Institute is a privately endowed research institute at Oregon Health & Science University dedicated to basic research that will lead to new treatments for neurological and psychiatric diseases. Vollum scientists have broad-ranging interests that coalesce around molecular neurobiology and cellular physiology. Their work has transformed the field of neuroscience and, in particular, have provided important advances in the study of synaptic transmission, neuronal development, neurotransmitter transporters, ion channels and the neurobiology of disease.Function/Duties of Position

The purpose of the position is to assist with setting up the Yang Laboratory, to provide fly husbandry and immunostaining support, and to carry out research projects in the Yang lab. In addition, the position entails help with lab up-keep and ordering and maintaining laboratory resources.

• Perform immunostaining and confocal microscopy and analyze resulting data.
• Perform behavioral experiments using fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) and analyze resulting data.
• Perform imaging experiments using fruit flies and analyze resulting data.
• Ordering, organize and manage laboratory supplies.
• Prepare common lab reagents and solutions for scientific experiments.
• Teach other lab members experimental and data analysis techniques.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's in any field; OR

• Associate's AND 2 years of relevant experience; OR

• 3 years of relevant experience; OR

• Equivalent combination of training and experience.

• Basic laboratory skills

• Confocal microscopy skills

• Light sheet microscopy skills

• Image analysis skills with FIJI, Imaris, and LuxBundle

• Teaching/tutoring/mentoring in biology or another STEM field

• At least 1 research project in the form of a paper (published or on bioRxiv) or an undergraduate thesis.

• D. melanogaster husbandry, genetic screening, and microsurgery skills.

• Skill at using FlyBase and BLAST.

• Programming skills in Python.

• Immunostaining.

• DNA and RNA extraction skills.

• NMR and IR spectroscopy skills.

• Chromatography skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Has taken at least 1 course at an undergraduate level or higher in each of the following areas: genetics, computational biology, and developmental biology.

• Organized, independent, and possesses problem-solving abilities.

• Ability to communicate openly to maintain effective working relationships.

Additional Details

Monday - Friday, days, with occasional evening or weekend work.

Typical laboratory environment; standing, sitting and lifting are required.

Benefits

• Healthcare for full-time employees covered 100% and 88% for dependents.
• $50K of term life insurance provided at no cost to the employee.
• Two separate above market pension plans to choose from.
• Paid time off - 208 hours per year, prorated for part-time.
• Extended illness bank - 64 hours per year, prorated for part-time.
• 9 paid holidays per year.
• Substantial Tri-Met and C-Tran discounts.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Childcare service discounts.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Employee discounts to local and major businesses.