Applications are invited for a Research Assistant position to work on an NIH-funded project in the laboratory of Dr Ninian Blackburn, Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry at OHSU. Duties will include supervised research into the preparation and characterization of copper-containing enzymes, and their complexes with substrates and inhibitors.  The work will provide opportunities to assist senior lab personnel in advanced biochemical and biophysical methods for characterizing reactive state of metalloenzymes, and will include applications such as protein and metal analyses, and active-site structure determination using advanced spectroscopic techniques. 

• Contribute to the scientific direction and planning for a project within the lab.
• Perform research experiments and analyze results for project within the lab.
• Maintain lab equipment and supplies.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor's degree in relevant field; OR

• Associate's AND 3 years of relevant experience; OR

• 4 years of relevant experience; OR

• Equivalent combination of training and experience.

• Ability to prepare and analyze samples from common laboratory reagents.

• Familiarity and core competence with common chemical and biochemical equipment including analytical balance, UV/vis spectrometer, centrifuge, autoclave, pipettes.

• Strong organization, time management, and communication skills.

• Ability to work independently as well as effectively as part of a team.

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry or biochemistry.
• Previous research experience.
• Experience with bacterial and/or mammalian cell culture.
• Experience with protein purification and chromatographic separations.
• Experience with metalloprotein handling and analysis.
• Experience with programming.

Individuals are expected to work on-site to conduct sample preparation and analysis. Additional safety training will be needed for work with cell lines and bacterial infection experiments in a BSL-2 environment, and for protein sample preparation and handling.