Research Assistant

Parkville
Attractive salary $79,920 - $108,451 per annum + super
12-month full time contract with an innovative project team

What’s in it for you?

Maximise your pay through salary packaging including entertainment and novated leases
Flexible Working Options
Be part of a team who are passionate about making a difference

**The opportunity**:
Bone marrow transplantation is used as a critical component of treatment for children who have blood cell cancers such as leukaemia. In this treatment, the patient’s normal blood cells are destroyed as 'collateral damage' during chemotherapy that aims to eradicate the leukaemic cells and must be replaced by those of a donor. These donor blood cells are usually bone marrow stem cells from an immunologically matched individual (most commonly a sibling). Bone marrow contains haematopoietic stem cells (blood stem cells) that have the ability to regenerate the whole blood system, including the red cells that carry oxygen and the white cells that fight infection. However, a problem with this procedure is that some people cannot find an immunologically matched donor. These patients are transplanted with imperfectly matched cells, increasing the chances of graft versus host disease that has a high morbidity and mortality.

The purpose of this project is to generate blood stem cells in the laboratory from pluripotent stem cells that could be used as an alternative to donor derived bone marrow. The eventual clinical use of patient matched cells would circumvent the difficulties of finding a perfectly matched donor and the problems of graft versus host disease.

Our aim is to see if blood cells made in the laboratory from human pluripotent stem cells have the same properties as those isolated from bone marrow - that is, they can re-create the whole blood system and continue to do this for extended periods of time. To do this, we are transplanting our human pluripotent stem cell differentiated haematopoietic stem cells into immunodeficient mice. We then monitor the mice for the appearance of human blood cells in the circulation and in the bone marrow, spleen and thymus. Such functional experiments can only be conducted in animals because there is no satisfactory in vitro surrogate.

The Research Assistant will work as part of a team to facilitate the transplantation program. Their roles will include assistance with managing the mouse breeding program, monitoring mouse welfare, coordination of the transplantation of the human cells (optionally may not include tail vein transplantation), harvesting tissues and performing downstream flow cytometry analysis and bone marrow cryopreservation of engrafted mice. These tasks will greatly benefit this study.

**Your responsibilities include**:
Demonstrating animal handling (mice) techniques and performing different tissue collection techniques (in accordance with AEC approval and guidelines)
Performing animal experimental procedures such as euthanasia, post-mortems, administration of anaesthesia, weighing, monitoring, and reporting on the well-being of animals. Tail vein injection experience is also desirable.
Performing laboratory responsibilities such as histology and process of mouse tissue for IHC or IF
Assisting and contributing to data generation for research and publications
Contributing to Grant Applications

**About you**:
Honours/Masters qualification in Science or related discipline
(Desirable ) 5+ years of expertise gained from a combination of experience, training or professional accreditation
Demonstrated relevant experience in mouse work
Experience with flow cytometry and histology desirable
Basic understanding of immunology, molecular biology, or biochemistry
Experience in knowledge sharing, development, mentoring and support of employees and students

Who we are

At Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, we share a powerful vision; to re-imagine the future of child health. We are the home to many life-changing scientific discoveries. We are renowned for our cutting-edge focus on early interventions, improved diagnosis, prevention, and development of potential cures. Our success is founded on a philosophy of collaboration through a multi-disciplinary approach to solving the toughest questions in child health. Murdoch Children’s is committed to creating a culture of inclusivity, equity and respect that celebrates and values the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our people. We strive to foster a positive working environment that is underpinned by equal opportunity for all and consideration for the diverse voices of our people and the communities we serve. Murdoch Children’s is a proud member of the Australian Network on Disability and is a committed subscriber to Science Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) and its principles.

**To be considered, applicants should submit**:
Cover letter
Resume
Responses to ‘selection criteria’ via the position description

All applicants, please be aware that in line with the Mur