Research Assistant I- The Koehler Lab - Boston Children's Hospital

The Koehler Lab at Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School is dedicated to exploring how sensory organs form and function during early human development. We specialize in creating models of human sensory organs using human stem cells, such as the first inner ear and hair-producing skin models in a dish. Our research aims to pave the way for regenerative treatments for disorders affecting hearing, balance, touch, and pain.

We invite applications for a motivated Research Assistant to join our interdisciplinary team for a preferred minimum commitment of two years. This role will primarily involve work on projects related to human skin development, disease modeling, and testing gene/cell therapies. Each project uses our innovative human skin model described in Lee et al., Nature 2020.
Lee, J. et al. Hair-bearing human skin is generated entirely from pluripotent stem cells. Nature 582, 399–404 (2020).
This Research Assistant I will be responsible for: 

• Assist in conducting experiments using 3D cell culture, microphysiological chip production, and various imaging techniques.
• Participate in the expansion and maintenance of iPSC and ESC lines, including skin and sensory neuron (i.e., neural crest) differentiation protocols.
• Implement downstream processing techniques such as immunohistochemistry, whole mount immunostaining, confocal microscopy, and scRNAseq sample preparation.
• Engage in data analysis, including bioinformatics and image processing.
• Troubleshoot procedures and improve experimental quality as needed.
• Maintain detailed records of results and methodologies.
• Keep lab equipment and areas organized and stocked.
• Support the team with the preparation of reagents.
• Conduct literature reviews and stay updated with relevant research and techniques.
• Present research findings at lab meetings and journal clubs.

In order to qualify you must have: 

•  a bachelor's degree in STEM or Psychology. 
• Experience with mammalian stem cell culture (iPSCs and ESCs) or other cell culture requiring strict aseptic technique is highly preferred.
• Eagerness to learn and develop proficiency in a range of laboratory protocols.
• Ability to collaborate with a diverse team of experts in various scientific disciplines.

Boston Children’s Hospital offers competitive compensation and unmatched benefits including flexible schedules, affordable health, vision and dental insurance, child care and student loan subsidies, generous levels of time off, 403(b) Retirement Savings plan, Pension, Tuition and certain License and Certification Reimbursement, cell phone plan discounts and discounted rates on T-passes. Experience the benefits of passion and teamwork.