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Job description:

Columbia University's Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute (Zuckerman Institute) supports interdisciplinary neuroscience research and discovery by scientists and scholars across the university and promises to be the most comprehensive institute for brain science. Located in a state-of-the-art facility, world class researchers are brought together to transform our understanding of the brain and mind.

The laboratory of Dr. Richard Axel at the Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute has an open full-time position for a Research Staff Assistant (Cephalopod Culture technician). The research staff assistant will work closely with researchers to assist with all aspects of the husbandry and culturing practices of our Ascarosepion bandense colony as well as other cephalopod species. This position provides the opportunity to participate in the vibrant intellectual community of the Axel laboratory within the Zuckerman Institute, located in the state-of-the-art Jerome L. Greene Science Center on Columbia’s Manhattanville campus in Manhattan. The Axel laboratory is a world leader in the study of the brain’s transformation of sensory information in the external world into appropriate behavioral responses. We seek someone who is eager to learn, takes direction and responsibility, and is enthusiastic about our science. This position is grant funded. This is a full-time position.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Feeding over 250+ cuttlefish in various life stages three times per day.

• Performing routine cleaning of tanks (vacuuming, water changes, algae removal,

  salt cleaning, and other related cleaning procedures).

• Maintaining thorough records of feeding, maintenance, and other husbandry

  related tasks.

• Perform water quality analysis.

• Maintain life support systems.

• Assisting researchers with research projects e.g, behavioral experiments or novel

  aquatic system design and construction.

• Other duties as assigned.
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Marine Science, or a related field or a combination of work and education can be substituted for a Bachelor’s degree.

• At least 1 year of experience in aquatic animal husbandry.

• Familiarity with aquatic animal life support systems (LSS) and water chemistry.

• Good communication, teamwork, and record keeping skills.

• Ability to lift a minimum of 50 pounds.

• Ability to climb ladders and stools.

• Able to work standing up for extended periods of time.

• Ability to crouch and work in restricted spaces.

• Must be able to work weekends, holidays, and flexible hours when necessary.
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience culturing cephalopods.

• Minor plumbing, carpentry, and electrical skills.

• Surgical or microdissection experience.

• A passion for working with and promoting cephalopods in science.

  The ideal candidate must show an ability to work independently with accuracy and attention to detail. They must be flexible in nature and exhibit a willingness to learn new techniques and function in a fast-paced and changing work environment. They must possess strong organizational skills, keep excellent notes, show sound judgment, and have a collaborative style that fosters teamwork and cooperation as well as the ability to work independently within a diverse and dynamic team environment.