Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is seeking multiple Student Assistants for the department of Neurology at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

The mission of the lab is to follow a network-based approach to understand the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases (mainly Parkinson's disease and secondarily Alzheimer's disease), with the ultimate aim being to utilize this strategy to develop combination treatments. This strategy distinguishes our lab from a decades-long tradition in the field of zeroing in on specific genes and focusing on the development of monotherapies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Simultaneously, the lab aspires to remain at the cutting edge in terms of cellular and molecular biology techniques and to advance the neurodegeneration field by developing innovative tools and technologies that we will share with the research community. To achieve those goals, we are currently using mammalian cell lines (including stable cell lines) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSc) as model systems, as well as human brain tissue. In the future, and as our research program advances, we will expand our toolkit to also include mouse work and computational analyses of large – omics datasets. Some of the techniques we use include standard cell and molecular biology techniques, flow cytometry, microscopy (standard imaging and FRET, FLIM, FRAP), high throughput genetic and chemical screens, single cell and spatial transcriptomics, proteomics, lipidomics, genomics, optogenetics and histology. Lab website: eleannakaralab.com 

Multiple individuals will be hired. We are hiring individuals for the following roles: a) pure wet lab roles, b) hybrid wet lab and bioinformatics roles, c) pure computational roles. 

Previous research experience is required. It is also expected that the incumbent is comfortable working independently under the direction of the Principal Investigator and already has a good understanding of the techniques used in the lab. Under the direction of the Principal Investigator, the incumbent will work on a project in a laboratory dedicated to studying the molecular pathogenesis of Parkinson's Disease, identifying therapeutic targets and testing new therapeutic agents. S/He will work in a new lab as part of a highly integrated research team utilizing a variety of laboratory technologies and approaches. Appropriate training in all techniques necessary for the project will be provided. The incumbent must have a genuine interest in research and in the work undertaken in our lab and be committed to improve their research skills and progressively develop research competence; those attributes will be assessed during the interview. Exceptional support will be provided to the recruits in that direction, and it is anticipated that the incumbent will take full advantage of the training and professional development opportunities provided. The applicant will join in ongoing research projects. Contributions to our research will be appropriately acknowledged through co-authorship on published manuscripts. 

Among the key duties of this position are the following: