Salary: $54,031 - $68,576

Grade: 15

The Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene is seeking a qualified candidate to fill a full-time Research Technician position. We are seeking a motivated candidate to join the Mitochondrial Psychobiology Laboratory at NYSPI/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Our mission is to define the cellular mechanisms underlying mind-body processes, with a focus on mitochondria. The lab's translational research program involves a combination of laboratory and clinical studies. The successful applicant will work collaboratively with other lab members and both external and internal collaborators on research projects aiming to understand the role of mitochondria in brain health. Specifically, they will process human biological samples (blood, muscle, brain) using our laboratory's mitochondrial phenotyping platform, perform data processing and quality control, and data visualization. Laboratory tasks will involve receiving and organizing samples, homogenizing and handling samples using manual techniques and pipetting, performing colorimetric assays, and running quantitative PCR to quantify mitochondrial DNA. With the dataset in hand, the candidate will have the opportunity to develop data analytical skills and will work with other investigators and collaborators to test hypotheses related to mitochondrial energy production capacity, psychosocial measures, cognitive function, and other relevant variables. The selected candidate must possess strong organizational skills, independence, and the ability to work well with others in a research team.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Biospecimens processing and analysis: 80%
• Data collection and database management: 20%

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in laboratory sciences, biology, psychology, or related field of study
• At least 1 year of molecular biology laboratory experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience with DNA extraction and qPCR
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel
• Experience in a mitochondrial research environment would also be an asset

RFMH employees may be required to be vaccinated for COVID-19 depending on work location and must provide proof of vaccination. Individuals that are not vaccinated for COVID-19 are ineligible for appointment to positions that require vaccination. Fully vaccinated is defined as two (2) or more weeks since receiving either the second dose in a two-dose COVID-19 vaccination series (e.g., Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) or the first and only dose of a single-dose vaccine (e.g., Johnson & Johnson [J&J]/Janssen).

Work Location: Kolb Research Building, 40 Haven Avenue, New York, NY 10032

To Apply: Submit an application through our website at https://nyspi.applicantpro.com/jobs/ no later than June 2, 2023. Please note- only applications submitted through our website will be considered.

The Research Foundation is a private not-for-profit corporation and is not an agency or instrumentality of the State of New York. Employees of the Research Foundation are not state employees, do not participate in any state retirement system, and do not receive state fringe benefits. Excellent Benefits Package. Employer/Minority/Women/Disabled/Veteran Employer. VEVRAA 41 CFR 60-300.5(a) compliant.