RESEARCH ASSISTANT I

Position Highlights:

• The Dr. Lau Lab is searching for an undergrad student serious about pursuing a career in basic biological research and applying for graduate school. This person will train in Dr. Lau’s laboratory, initially in basic laboratory tasks, and dependent on their performance and learning, advance to basic and complex experiments. We will carefully plan a work schedule conducive to productive learning and reliability in the lab. The employment would ideally be part-time but long-term until their undergrad studies are completed. In addition, Dr. Lau would provide mentoring and guidance regarding scientific theory and technical skills and subsequent applications to Ph.D. programs.

Ideal Candidate:

• Ideal candidates are highly motivated and dedicated students with a passion for biomedicine, quick learners who are also good technically with their hands in the lab. They need to be organized and focused. Open-mindedness is a must: my team focuses on elucidating pathological roles of fucosylation—a poorly understood post-translational protein modification that plays significant roles in shaping tumor intrinsic biology and tumor stromal and immunological interactions. Often, the signaling pathways and cellular interactions that we study are not linear, requiring an open mind and out-of-the-box thinking and creativity. Importantly, the candidates should exhibit hard work ethic/focus/drive, reliability, and the ability to communicate, play well, and be supportive in a cohesive team environment. In addition, all of our basic research work has the end goal of helping people who suffer from cancer—the questions we pose and pursue in laboratory generally aim to help mitigate or solve clinical issues that affect cancer patients. As co-creator of the Moffitt Patient Researcher Forum, Dr. Lau prioritizes communication of our research to patients, and so, the candidate would have the opportunity to participate in such forums (https://youtu.be/wvt-BXYw6u4 and https://moffitt.org/patient-family/patient-and-family-centered-care/patient-researcher-forum/).

• Dr. Lau’s faculty profile is here for students who might be interested: https://moffitt.org/research-science/researchers/eric-lau/

• The position requires a creative mind that is focused and detail-oriented.

• Strong work ethic, excellent verbal and written communication skills are a must.

Responsibilities:

• Maintains laboratory equipment in clean and working order, including coordinating instrument standardization documented by a written report.
• Reorders stock laboratory supplies when depleted under appropriate supervision.
• Basic experiments as training proceeds.

Credentials and Qualifications:

• High School Diploma/GED
• Must be pursuing an undergraduate degree in a relevant field and is serious about applying to a basic biology (or equivalent field) graduate program after completion of undergraduate studies.
• Hands-on research experience is highly preferred.

Location: H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute · Tumor Biology
Schedule: Part Time, Day Shift, varies