The University of Iowa Health Care, Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation’s Ignacio Ponseti Orthopedic Biology Lab (POBL, located on the Oakdale Research Campus in Coralville) is looking for student research assistants. This opportunity will include direct mentorship by the principal investigator, Dr. Mitch Coleman, on all laboratory techniques and maintenance. This allows us to simultaneously serve laboratory needs while providing useful research experience in line with undergraduate students’ capabilities.

This position requires 12-20 hours per week in semester and we hope student scientists will be available up to 40 hours per week during breaks or in the summer. Applicants must have reliable transportation (personal vehicle, Cambus, or other form of transportation) to Oakdale Campus.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

Help clean laboratory work areas and equipment.  Wash/sterilize instrumentation, glassware, and laundry used by the service center.

Receive, inventory, and store biological specimens, lab supplies, and reagents.

Assist in making solutions, preparing equipment, and other general laboratory tasks.

Assist staff with specimen preparation including bovine (from a local butcher) knee dissection and patient surgical discard specimens. If student proves proficient, tissue culture preparation of osteochondral explants.

Develop and pursue an independent line of research based on student’s capabilities and laboratory technical needs. Technical needs mostly revolve around microscopy, histologic slide preparation, enzymology, tissue culture modeling.

Required Qualifications:

• Pursuing a degree in engineering, biology, or other major that includes laboratory coursework.
• Exceptional attention to detail and numerical accuracy.
• Ability to work well within a team and communicate effectively with staff and other students.
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions accurately.
• Ability to learn and perform basic lab procedures.

Desired Qualifications include:

• Previous laboratory experience.
• Experience with MS Office.
• Experience with power tools.

This position is only open to undergraduate students registered at an accredited institution.

Successful candidates will be subject to a criminal background check.