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Summary:

The Research Assistant will assist with animal behavior research within the laboratory of Dr. David Kearns. The position will entail carrying out operant behavioral research involving drug self-administration in rats, testing and monitoring animal subjects, recording and statistically analyzing results, and writing and/or presenting findings. Successful candidates will be familiar with operant behavioral procedures and have demonstrated experience with small animal care and testing.

Essential Functions:

1.) Training and Testing Rats

• Perform daily behavioral training and testing of rat subjects including setting up operant chambers, refilling syringes, setting up software to control experiments, placing rats into operant chambers, monitoring ongoing behavior and experimental events, and recording behavior.

• Assist and or carry out small rodent surgery under Dr. Kearns’s supervision) as needed per testing requirements.

2.) Equipment Maintenance and Testing

• Perform regular testing and maintenance on all experimental equipment used in the course of lab research. 

• Clean operant chambers and other lab areas as needed.

3.) Animal Care

• Handle, weigh, feed, administer medication to rats, under Dr. Kearns’s supervision. 

• Transport rats from vivarium to testing rooms and return to vivarium when done. 

• Record weights and procedures performed. 

• Perform catheter maintenance for all rat subjects each day to ensure that all test subjects are appropriately cared for and fit for required experiments.

• Complete animal research compliance training and documentation.

4.) Analysis

• Collect and save data to spreadsheets. 

• Statistically analyze results from testing and make figures or tables of results. 

• Draft and/or review research reports (journal articles, primarily) on findings. 

• Present research findings in lab meetings, colleagues, and possibly at conferences.

5.) Supply Maintenance

• Maintain a careful inventory of supplies and equipment used in experiments, testing, and animal care. 

• Alert Dr. Kearns or other lab members when a particular supply is running low and needs to be ordered. 

• Receive shipments of supplies and/or equipment and put in their proper places (i.e., shelves, cabinets, or closets) in the lab.   

6.) Communication and Collaboration

• Reliably respond to emails regarding lab work.

• Communicate and coordinate with Dr. Kearns and graduate student and undergraduate members of the lab regarding daily schedules, assigned activities, recent research results, problems with the research, and absences. 

• Instruct student members of the lab on procedures as needed.

Competencies:

• Prioritizing and Organizing.

• Acquiring and Analyzing Information.

• Building and Supporting Teams.

• Supporting Coworkers.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

• Full-time. 

• 35 hours per week. 

• Continuation of the program/position is contingent upon external funding.

• Current NIH budget period ends 7/31/26, with possibility of an additional year after that.

Salary Range:

• $22.91 per hour.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent.

• Less than 1 year of relevant experience.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree.

• 1-3 years of relevant experience.

Other Duties:

• Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Benefits

AU offers a competitive benefits package. Click here to learn about American University's unique benefit options.

Other Details

• Hiring offers for this position are contingent on successful completion of a background check.

• Employees in staff positions at American University must deliver their services to the university from either the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia, or perform work on-site at the university.

• Please note this job announcement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

• American University is an E-Verify employer.

Current American University Employees

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Contact Us

For more information or assistance with the American University careers site, email [email protected].

American University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution that operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity and expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status, an individual’s genetic information or any other bases under federal or local laws (collectively "Protected Bases") in its programs and activities.