SEARCH CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

GENERAL SUMMARY OF POSITION:  

The Pathology Department at the University of Massachusetts Medical School specifically focuses on immunology and immunopathology research, with the purpose of uncovering cellular mechanisms that drive disease. The NIH-funded laboratory team, led by Dr. Kiera Clayton, is currently looking to fill the position of Research Technician I or II, entry level immunologist positions. Research interests include the characterization of human NK cell, CD8+ T cell, and Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cell responses to HIV-infected macrophages and identifying pathways involved in perforin/granzyme resistance with the goal of designing therapies to eliminate HIV-infected macrophages (https://www.clayton-lab.org/). Many of these projects involve collaborations with established labs at various universities and hospitals, including Harvard University, Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, MIT, the Ragon Institute, Boston University, Weill Cornell Medicine, University of Toronto, and University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Additional networks with startup and mid-level biotech companies are also established. The ideal candidate for this position would have a background in immunology, virology, and biochemistry, an interest in a career in medical sciences, and experience working in a previous laboratory setting. Training provided would prepare the candidate for graduate school, medical school, or a Research Associate position in industry. Experimental day-to-day work will include working with human samples, making HIV stocks, performing live infections, flow cytometry, molecular cloning, and microscopy. A minimum time commitment of two years is preferred.

These positions are an excellent opportunity for those applicants who have an overall interest in medical sciences and future interest in attending a graduate/medical school.

Under the direction of the Principal Investigator or Designee, the Research Associate performs a variety of complex research experiments.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Perform complex laboratory experiments and conduct in-depth analysis of research experiments
• Write standard operating procedures, schedule work, analyze data, maintain accurate records, and write reports
• Report the status of projects and observations to the Department Chair
• Ensure departmental computer resources remain functional and provide on-site support to Investigators as requested
• Design and execute protocols and experiments, modify protocols as needed, and may be responsible for own research project
• Manage laboratory research staff
• Responsible for overall laboratory organization including oversight of safety protocols and the maintenance of related records 
• May assist with budget and/or operational aspects of grant and contract proposals
• Long-range planning for laboratory and departmental equipment maintenance and replacement. Assist in procurement of departmental equipment. Responsible for physical inventory of all equipment, and maintaining records of all equipment acquired, moved off-site, or discarded
• Oversee and coordinate the use of centralized departmental facilities
• Work with Facilities Engineering, Environmental Health and Safety, and Radiation Safety to ensure department facilities and laboratories are in compliance with federal, state and institutional regulations
• Assist in writing the text of scientific publications and grants.  Review literature
• Oversee and assist in the training of new laboratory personnel, students, and collaborators
• Comply with all safety and infection control standards
• Perform other duties as required

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:  

• Bachelor’s degree in the Biological Sciences, or equivalent experience
• 5 years of relevant research experience
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office products
• Strong ability to analyze complex visual data in a quantitative and objective manner
• Judgment and action skills required to solve commonly encountered problems

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

Under the direction of the Principal Investigator, or designee

SUPERVISION EXERCISED: 

Supervise aides, technicians, and associates

ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING CONDITIONS:

Wet chemistry laboratory, and may require appropriate contact with biohazards, radionuclides, toxins, animals, and human specimens

PREFERRED SKILL SET AND EXPERIENCE:

• Ability to work independently and as a team member
• Good communication skills
• Computer literacy
• Working knowledge of clinical research protocols
• Ability to perform multiple tasks independently
• Analytical skills and the ability to resolve technical problems
• Ability to interpret acceptability of data results
• Working knowledge of data management programs (FlowJo, Excel, Prism, IDEAS, SnapGene)
• Introductory level bioinformatics training (Python)
• Processing of human samples, including biohazardous samples from HIV-infected individuals
• Flow cytometry – sample preparation, compensation, and data acquisition
• Production of high-titer HIV virus
• Primary cell infection assays, with HIV virus
• Co-culture assays using primary cells and viruses including HIV
• Imaging Flow Cytometry, including with HIV-infected cells
• Molecular cloning
• CRSIPR editing of human macrophages
• Western blotting
• Executing protocols of routine and non-routine experiments
• Perform basic design and modification of protocols
• Maintaining an electronic laboratory notebook
• Calculate, transcribe and analyze data
• Weekly presentations of data at laboratory meetings
• Independent literature searches
• Assisting with organizing materials for conference presentations, grant applications and primary research publications
• Maintaining and ordering supplies

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW:

The Department of Pathology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School located in Worcester, Massachusetts, invites applications for Research positions at the Research Technician or Research Associate level. We are seeking individuals with a BA/BS in a Biological/Life Sciences. The ideal candidate would have a background in Immunology, Virology, Molecular Biology and/ or Biochemistry; experience working in a laboratory and with techniques in these areas is preferred. We are looking for individuals with scientific curiosity, a strong work ethic and an interest in the immunological basis of health and disease. Specific research areas currently include, but are not limited to, development of immune cells and gene regulation; innate immunity, immunity to pathogens including HIV; and skin/mucosal immunology. These positions are an excellent opportunity for those applicants who have an overall interest in medical sciences and future interest in attending a graduate/medical school.