Research Assistant, Cell Biology, College of Pharmacy

Current UC employees must apply internally via SuccessFactors

Next Lives at the University of Cincinnati

Founded in 1819, the University of Cincinnati ranks among the nation’s best urban public research universities. Home to more than 53,000 students, 12,000 faculty and staff, and over 350,000 living alumni, UC, a Carnegie 1 institution, combines research prowess with a physical setting The New York Times has called “the most ambitious campus design program in the country." UC's momentum has never been stronger as the anchor of the Cincinnati Innovation District, the oldest cooperative education (co-op) program in the country with students earning $88.8 million annually through paid experiences, an academic health system, and as a member of the Big 12 Conference. The university contributes $10.6 billion in economic impact to the city and $22.7 billion to the state of Ohio. At UC, next is all of us. Learn more at uc.edu.

UC is a mission-driven organization where we are committed to student success and positively transforming the community through scholarship and service. We thrive on innovation, making an impact, and fostering an environment where staff and faculty are key contributors to UC’s success.

Job Overview

The University of Cincinnati James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy houses distinguished faculty, committed students, and pioneering researchers dedicated to enhancing medications and their impact on health outcomes.

The Natarajan Lab is seeking a qualified individual to fill the role of Research Assistant. The major focus of this lab is to develop target and mechanism specific compounds against disease relevant targets. These modulators serve as early hits in the drug discovery pipeline. Researchers use an array of cell-based assays to screen compound libraries to identify the hits that will be subjected to hit-to-lead optimization. Selected lead compounds are advanced to preclinical development studies.

Essential Functions

• Perform experiments and record data according to research protocols.
• Optimize conditions to improve current methods.
• Communicate findings in group settings.
• Organize and manage lab inventory.
• Perform related duties based on departmental need. This job description can be changed at any time.

Minimum Requirements

Required Education

• Bachelor’s Degree.
• Four (4) years of relevant work experience and/or other specialized training can be used in lieu of education requirement.

Required Experience

Additional related work experience may be required depending on field or discipline.

Additional Qualifications Considered

• Bachelors or Masters in Chemical or Biological Sciences is preferred.
• 1-2 years in a laboratory setting, preferably with cell culture experience.

Physical Requirements/Work Environment

• Sitting - Continuously
• Repetitive hand motion (such as typing) - Often
• Hearing, listening - Often
• Talking - Often
• Standing - Often
• Walking - Often
• Bending - Often
• Stooping - Often
• Lifting - up to 20 pounds - Often
• Kneeling, squatting - Seldom
• Noise: There is sufficient noise to cause you to shout in order to be heard above the noise level.
• Hazards: Includes a variety of physical conditions, such as proximity to moving mechanical parts of machinery or tools used to perform work, moving vehicles, electrical current, working on scaffolding and high places, or exposure to chemicals.
• Atmospheric Conditions: Conditions that affect the respiratory system, such as fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gases, or poor ventilation.

Compensation and Benefits

UC offers an exceptional benefits package designed to support your well-being, financial security, and work-life balance. ( UC Benefits Link ) Highlights include:

Comprehensive Tuition Remission

UC provides tuition remission for you and your eligible dependents, covering tuition costs for nearly all undergraduate and graduate programs offered by the university.

Robust Retirement Plans

As a UC employee, you won’t contribute to Social Security (except Medicare). Instead, you’ll choose between state pension plans (OPERS, STRS) or an Alternative Retirement Plan (ARP), with UC contributing 14–18% of your salary based on position.

Real Work-Life Balance

UC prioritizes work-life balance with a generous time-off policy, including:

Vacation and sick time

11 paid holidays and additional end-of-year paid time off (Winter Season Days)

6 weeks of paid parental leave for new parents

Additional Benefits Include:

• Competitive salary based on experience
• Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, vision, prescription)
• Flexible spending accounts & wellness programs
• Professional development & mentorship opportunities

To learn more about why UC is a great place to work, please visit our careers page at

UC is an E-Verify employer. If hired into this position, you will be required to provide satisfactory proof of employment eligibility by providing acceptable, original forms of identification for employment verification via the Federal I-9 employment verification process. A list of acceptable documents can be seen here:

Important : To apply you must create a profile and submit a complete job application through the UC applicant portal. We are unable to consider “easy apply” applications submitted via other websites. For questions about the UC recruiting process or to request accommodations with the application, please contact Human Resources at [email protected]

This position will be a professional position paid at an hourly rate.

Equal Opportunity Employer. Building a workplace where all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment, including Individuals with Disabilities and Protected Veterans.

REQ: 99910

SF:OMJ SF:RM SF:HEJ, SF:INS SF:HERC SF:DIV SF:LJN SF:IHE