Career Center

• Job Type: Support Staff - Non-Union
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35.00
• Salary Range: $42,600 - $52,000

Position Summary

Columbia University's Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute brings together world-class scientists across academic disciplines conducting pioneering research to transform our understanding of how the brain works ??? and gives rise to mind and behavior. The Institute fosters a collaborative and inclusive environment across 50+ labs, advancing insights into human health by exploring how the brain develops, performs, endures, and recovers.

At the Zuckerman Institute, we are committed to becoming a more inclusive, equitable, and diverse place of scientific discovery and supporting a culture of respect. Promoting diversity in science will help drive the transformative science that can change the world.

Situated in the Jerome L. Greene Science Center on Columbia???s Manhattanville campus, the state-of-the-art building offers an environment where the highest level of scholarly scientific research takes place on a daily basis, with the benefit of being located in the heart of New York, one of the world???s most vibrant and culturally rich cities.

The laboratory of Dr. Richard Axel at the Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute is looking for a highly motivated Research Staff Assistant with an interest in behavior and neuroscience to work in an exciting and innovative research environment. The candidate will work closely with a postdoctoral fellow on ongoing experiments using cutting-edge molecular, genetic, functional imaging, and behavioral methodologies to dissect the neural circuits underlying motor sequences and decision-making in drosophila. We seek highly motivated, skilled, and dynamic individuals who are enthusiastic about a career in science. This is a full-time position.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Under the direction of the PI, perform the following biological techniques: dissections, histology, and confocal imaging of neural tissue
• Under the direction of the PI, assist in designing and the execution of optogenetic experiments
• Assist with the development of novel methodologies for the automation of behavioral analysis
• Assist with administrative and documentation relating to experiments.
• Maintain animal colonies and assist with administrative tasks related to experiments

Minimum Qualifications

A bachelor's degree in neuroscience, biology, or another related area of science is required. Prior experience with drosophila, micro-dissections, programming (e.g. MATLAB, python), histology, or confocal imaging is a plus.

The ideal candidate must be capable of troubleshooting and working through issues independently. They must be flexible in navigating experimental challenges and be patient and enthusiastic about learning and implementing new methodologies. It is also essential that they possess strong organizational skills, keep excellent notes, and be good with communication.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.

About Columbia University

Columbia University is one of the world's most important centers of research and at the same time a distinctive and distinguished learning environment for undergraduates and graduate students in many scholarly and professional fields. The University recognizes the importance of its location in New York City and seeks to link its research and teaching to the vast resources of a great metropolis. It seeks to attract a diverse and international faculty and student body, to support research and teaching on global issues, and to create academic relationships with many countries and regions. It expects all areas of the university to advance knowledge and learning at the highest level and to convey the products of its efforts to the world.

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