Research Technician III - Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Seattle, WA 98109-1024
About the Job
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is an independent, nonprofit organization providing adult cancer treatment and groundbreaking research focused on cancer and infectious diseases. Based in Seattle, Fred Hutch is the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Washington.
With a track record of global leadership in bone marrow transplantation, HIV/AIDS prevention, immunotherapy and COVID-19 vaccines, Fred Hutch has earned a reputation as one of the world’s leading cancer, infectious disease and biomedical research centers. Fred Hutch operates eight clinical care sites that provide medical oncology, infusion, radiation, proton therapy and related services, and network affiliations with hospitals in five states. Together, our fully integrated research and clinical care teams seek to discover new cures to the world’s deadliest diseases and make life beyond cancer a reality.
At Fred Hutch we value collaboration, compassion, determination, excellence, innovation, integrity and respect. These values are grounded in and expressed through the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion. Our mission is directly tied to the humanity, dignity and inherent value of each employee, patient, community member and supporter. Our commitment to learning across our differences and similarities make us stronger. We seek employees who bring different and innovative ways of seeing the world and solving problems. Fred Hutch is in pursuit of becoming an anti-racist organization. We are committed to ensuring that all candidates hired share our commitment to diversity, anti-racism and inclusion.
The Nelson Research Group at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center has an opening for a Research Technician III-IV for a scientist interested in contributing to efforts to develop new treatments for advanced cancer. The Nelson group is embedded within a highly collaborative research environment and is comprised of scientists with a diverse range of skills and expertise. The successful applicant will apply novel experimental approaches to systematically understand how cancers resist current therapies and to develop new models that take advantage of high-throughput technologies that include spatial profiling and genetic/compound screens. There is ample opportunity to learn new skills and for leading research projects.
Our research team is seeking an outstanding individual to work on developing and implementing new therapeutics with the goal of translating these discoveries to improve the outcomes and lives of patients with advanced cancer. The ideal candidate will have a strong interest in cancer biology, immunology, mouse modeling and application of cutting edge technologies. The technician will be responsible for performing standard and investigative laboratory work, including, following detailed, time-sensitive and challenging protocols to generate organoids, mouse models and cell/tissue transplant experiments, conducting drug studies, conducting and quantifying tumor measurements by a variety of in vivo and ex vivo imaging approaches, and by conducting and quantifying tissue-based immunohistochemistry and spatial profiling.
Responsibilities:Key responsibilities will include (skills can be taught):
- Organize and assist with the management of a cancer research laboratory including maintaining a biospecimen bank, organizing freezer/liquid nitrogen biospecimen storage, train laboratory personnel in standard methods/assays (tissue culture, PCR, DNA/RNA extractions, organoid development, mouse handling, xenograft implantation and harvesting, xenograft treatments).
- Work collaboratively with other lab members to execute complex experimental studies of cancer therapeutics including assessments of tumor responses in vitro and in vivo.
- Perform cell-culture experiments, molecular biology, and preparation of next-generation sequencing libraries.
- Maintain and perform husbandry and genotyping of murine colonies, as well as, to maintain associated databases
- Histology, cell culture, maintain mice colonies, imaging mice, stocking reagents
- Tag, weigh and record data used for tracking purposes and administer drugs/reagents per guided protocols, including the harvest of brain tumors
- Perform, collect and analyze flow cytometric assays
- Develop and characterize novel antibodies targeting tumor antigens
- IVIS and ultrasound imaging
- Mentor/train high-school, undergraduate and graduate researchers.
- Assist with laboratory supply ordering.
- Attend lab meetings and present results.
- Read relevant scientific literature.
- Assist with general lab upkeep and maintenance.
- Optionally (depending on skills and interests) assisting with computational data analysis and the preparation/authorship of manuscripts/research results
Research Technician III:
- A bachelor’s degree in a related field
Senior level position requiring extensive experience in a laboratory.
Research Technician IV:
- A bachelor’s degree in a related field
- Senior level position requiring a minimum of eight years related experience
- Proven ability and knowledge necessary to conduct research independently
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master's degree or equivalent experience
- Experience with mouse experiments and/or husbandry
- Experience and expertise generating tissue/tumor organoids
- Assay validation and optimization experience
- Experience with cytotoxicity and cytokine assays
- Experience with tissue culture of primary cells, DNA/RNA isolation, and experience with molecular assays such as DNA/RNA sequencing, RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, CRISPR gene editing
- Experience with cell transfections and the isolation and purification of recombinant proteins
- Experience developing and using biospecimen databases
- Experience/familiarity with R or other programming languages is an asset
- Superior organization and communication skills
We will consider applicants from diverse backgrounds and with different levels of experience. We will also base our evaluation on your specific interest and motivation for this position. Accordingly, in your application please include a cover letter that describes your interest and motivation related to the recent research in our lab (see papers here: (https://research.fredhutch.org/peternelson/en/publications.html) along with your CV and contact information for at least two references.
A statement describing your commitment and contributions toward greater diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism in your career or that will be made through your work at Fred Hutch is requested of all finalists.
The annual base salary range for a Tech III is from $67,716 to $99,236 and pay offered will be based on experience and qualifications.
The annual base salary range for a Tech IV is from $72,946 to $109,408 and pay offered will be based on experience and qualifications.
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center offers employees a comprehensive benefits package designed to enhance health, well-being, and financial security. Benefits include medical/vision, dental, flexible spending accounts, life, disability, retirement, family life support, employee assistance program, onsite health clinic, tuition reimbursement, paid vacation (12-22 days per year), paid sick leave (12-25 days per year), paid holidays (13 days per year), paid parental leave (up to 4 weeks), and partially paid sabbatical leave (up to 6 months).