Research Assistant—Sydney Brain Bank

Neuroscience Research Australia

Clovelly, Sydney, NSW

Clinical/Medical Research (Healthcare & Medical)

Full-time

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The Sydney Brain Bank is seeking a proactive, detail-oriented, and highly motivated professional to join our dedicated team. This position will be responsible for collecting, receiving, and processing brain and spinal cord specimens to enable high-quality tissue samples suitable for a variety of research applications.

Other duties will include microtomy of tissues and histological and immunohistochemical staining to enable accurate pathological characterization of cases. Maintenance of laboratory stocks, equipment, and records and assistance with researcher requests for specimens will also be required. This position has an on-call component for out-of-hours (weekend/public holidays) brain collection and dissection and 24/7 freezer monitoring.

Encouraging Indigenous Applications

NeuRA is committed to achieving a diverse workforce and strongly encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to apply for this position.

3 best things about the role

1. It is a unique opportunity to work with the human brain.

2. Being part of a small team where you can also work independently.

3.     Opportunity to contribute to research projects by generation of tissue samples.

Measures of success

In 3 months you will have achieved a solid understanding of the protocols used in the Sydney Brain Bank.

In 6 months you will have contributed to research through the supply of high-quality tissue to researchers.

In 12 months you will be an integral part of the team and be able to capably handle duties independently, allowing time to be involved in research projects.

Responsibilities of the role

Receive human brain and spinal cord specimens, perform dissection of fresh tissue and slicing of fixed brain specimens, and collecttissue for tissue requests.

Liaise with relevant health practitioners/NSW Health staff to collect paperwork necessary for brain and spinal cord removal at the mortuary facility. Perform brain and spinal cord removal and transport tissue back to the Sydney Brain Bank.

Maintain an on-call presence for out-of-hours fresh brain collection/dissection and freezer monitoring. This will require participation in an on-call roster to be available to perform brain and spinal cord collection and fresh tissue dissections (two weekends out of four and on other periods of staff leave) and to be one of two staff on a freezer monitoring roster 24/7.

Paraffin embedding, sectioning, and histological staining of specimens.

Long-term maintenance and storage of specimens.

Arrange dispatch of tissue samples by courier to researchers within required timeframes.

Carry out laboratory duties, including overseeing and monitoring replacement stock, laboratory equipment maintenance, and maintenance of records, reports, and correspondence as required.

Teaching of laboratory techniques to students and other staff as required.

Provide technical and administrative support to the SBB Director, SBB Manager, and the research team, and other duties as required.

To succeed in this role, you will need

A degree or equivalent in a science-based discipline

Current driver’s licence

Experience in histological and immunohistochemical techniques

Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills with ability to exercise discretion and confidentiality

Demonstrated ability to work both independently and as part of a team

Proven ability to show attention to detail and commitment to quality

Knowledge of health and safety responsibilities and commitment to attending relevant health and safety training

Key skills that would be advantageous

Experience handling human tissue samples

Knowledge of neuroanatomy

Experience with Filemaker database systems

Ability to accurately plan, execute, and document experimental research

Knowledge of autopsy procedure

Our values

Our values are the essence of our organization—they are the principles that we live by and are at the core of everything we do. NeuRA’s values are impact and collaboration. Respect. Excellence. Integrity. Innovation.

NeuRA is committed to improving research quality. Our goals are to:

Raise awareness

Educate, Train & Foster

Promote Openness

Adopt Improvement

NOTE: Never make payment to any employer, person, company, contractor or agency to get hired for a Job.

For more information or a confidential chat about the role, contact Heather McCann at h.mccann@neura.edu.au