Carl Connection: Research Assistant | Reck-Peterson Lab at Weill Cornell Medicine and Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI)

This opportunity is brought to you by a Carleton alumnus, Samara Reck-Peterson, PhD ’93 (slr4003@med.cornell.edu), and Nick Lattal ’24 (nil4021@med.cornell.edu). Feel free to reach out to either with any questions prior to applying. 

Research Assistant position available in the Reck-Peterson Lab at Weill Cornell Medicine and Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI).

The lab of Dr. Samara Reck-Peterson at Weill Cornell Medicine seeks a motivated and intellectually curious Research Assistant to join our research team for post-baccalaureate studies. Our lab has a culture of providing excellent post-bacc training and placing people in PhD and MD programs (for example, recent post-baccs have joined PhD or MD programs at Stanford, Berkeley, UC Davis, Northwestern, Yale, and Harvard).

The Reck-Peterson lab studies the molecular mechanisms of intracellular transport. This role will be responsible for contributing to the Reck-Peterson lab’s research on fungal biology and secondary metabolite production. The genus Aspergillus are filamentous fungus that is both biomedically and agriculturally important. Individual filamentous fungi species make dozens of secondary metabolites, with prominent examples including penicillin, lovastatin, and aflatoxin. We use a broad range of techniques, including cell culture, single-molecule imaging, proximity-dependent proteomics, biochemical in vitro reconstitution, genetics, and live-cell imaging. We collaborate with labs using structural biology techniques such as cryo-electron microscopy and cryo-electron tomography. The Reck-Peterson lab is funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and LRRK2 Investigative Therapeutics Exchange (LITE).

We are seeking a Research Assistant who will commit to at least two years of post-bacc research in our lab. The Research Assistant will be mentored by a senior lab member to develop their own research project, as well as perform general lab duties. Ideal candidates will have a BA or BS in the biological or chemical sciences or related field and will have experience in one or more of the following areas: molecular biology methods (cloning, PCR, qPCR, etc.), protein biochemistry (Western blots, protein purification from E. coli, insect cells, and/ or human cells, etc.), and imaging of live- and fixed-cells using confocal microscopy. 

Rolling application deadline. Looking for someone to start as soon as possible!