Performing lab chores in a biomedical laboratory

We seek one undergraduate interested on a paid position performing various lab chores in a biomedical research lab. This is not a research position per se, but you will be exposed to the research environment in the lab and will frequently interact with the graduate students, postdocs, and other staff carrying out research. The main responsibilities would be: preparation of buffers, culture media, and other common solutions; check stock of microtubes, tips, and culture tubes and prepare more when necessary; remove spatulas/stir bars from soapy water, rinse, dry, and put away; check the dirty glass pipet jars and clean, sort into the metal cans, and autoclave as needed; check the hazardous waste bins and replace the bags, autoclave, and dispose  as needed; and assist lab members with smaller, non-technical tasks. Although these chores might not sound like actual research, they are an absolutely essential part of research! Research cannot be done without media to grow organisms or clean tubes and tips to carry out in vitro assays, for example. You will learn how to use laboratory equipment such as balances, mixers, autoclaves, etc. You will be exposed to the lab’s techniques and methods, and will develop chemical as well as biological skills essential for a lab worker. As some of the current undergraduate students doing research graduate and leave, the student in this position can then move on into a research, un-paid position (which will appear in your transcript as a research experience; paid work does not appear in your transcript). If you do not have much hands-on research experience, this would be an excellent way to rapidly improve your technical skills in a realistic setting outside the classroom. This could be a stepping stone for moving on into a research position in my lab, or in any other lab of your interest. However, there is a commitment of working a minimum of 1 semester. If after that semester you want to move on to another lab for a research position, I would be more than happy to provide a recommendation. Please fill out this form to find out more about what this position entails. Freshmen and sophomore applicants are preferred, junior applicants will have lower priority unless they are not interested on a research experience and solely want to paid job.