Research Technician I-II, Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy

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.

 

A Research Technician I-II position is immediately available in the Barry laboratory within the Fred Hutch Cancer Center’s Translational Research Program. The Barry lab focuses on understanding how the immune system responds to cancer and can be manipulated to target cancer. Our studies utilize human immunology, murine models of cancer, state-of-the-art imaging techniques, RNA sequencing techniques, and immunological techniques to explore the role of the innate immune system in controlling immune responses to cancer. Our goal is to understand the basic mechanisms regulating the immune response to cancer in order to target these pathways in patients, ultimately leading to increased response rates of current FDA-approved immunotherapy drugs and identification of novel pathways that can be targeted to increase immune responses to cancer.

 

We are looking for an ambitious, highly organized, and highly motivated individual who will be responsible for managing our human studies, murine models, and performing an independent investigative project. It is expected that this individual will work with human tumor samples, murine models, conduct cell culture experiments, operate analytical instruments, recover, compile and verify the accuracy of research data, and prepare these data as both written and visual summaries.

SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

 

This position will work under the Principal Investigator and work with the laboratory personnel. The individual will use discretion and judgment in carrying out their job duties. In addition to being responsible for conducting an independent research project the individual will manage the murine colony and day-to-day lab needs.

 

This is an ideal position for a recent graduate who wants to gain an immersive research experience before pursuing graduate and/or medical school.

 

JOB DUTIES:

• The research technician will have three main responsibilities:
  • Manage human tumor studies.
    • Work with clinical and scientific collaborators to obtain consents and coordinate sample collection.
    • Perform documented protocols on patient samples. Lead in the processing of human and murine tissue for imaging, multiparamter flow-cytometric analysis, and RNA sequencing.
    • Analyze collected data to address experimental questions and to maintain a research database.
  • Carry out an independent research project that involves cancer immunology, human immunology, immunotherapy, cell biology, and molecular biology.
    • Identify methodological problems in research protocols and implement modifications to optimize experimental results.
    • Perform experiments at the bench level to support independent investigative work. This will involve cell culture, live cell imaging, immunofluorescent staining, processing tissue for single cell analysis, tissue sectioning, plasmid preparation, cloning, retro- and lenti-virus production, and others as necessary.
    • Maintain laboratory records and compile data on experiments and assays.
    • Perform basic statistical analysis of experimental results and interpret experimental results.
    • Assist in the publication of results by writing, proofreading, editing, and contributing ideas.
  • Maintain murine models.
    • Manage a murine colony, including husbandry, genotyping, and techniques associated with tumor models.
• The research technician will participate in lab meetings and journal clubs. Specific duties are:
  • Prepare and present written or oral progress reports concerning studies including assembly, organization, and interpretation of data in one-on-one meetings with the principal investigator, lab meetings, and occasionally larger campus group meetings.
  • Read and discuss scientific articles to inform ideas and directions for research projects in the lab.
• Other responsibilities include general lab maintenance and other duties as needed. Specific dutes are:
  • Prepare and maintain laboratory reagents, stocks, cultures or cell lines.
  • Operate and carry out basic maintenance of laboratory equipment.
  • Order and maintain appropriate levels of supplies.
  • Perform other laboratory-related duties as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

 

Research Technician I:

• Bachelor’s degree in related scientific field or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Demonstrated scientific knowledge in the area of study
• Demonstrated basic laboratory skills

Research Technician II:

• Bachelor’s degree in related scientific field or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 2 years of experience working in a lab outside of school coursework

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• The candidate must have an interest in immunology and immunotherapy.
• Reliability is essential.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• To be successful in this position, the technician must be ambitious, have scientific curiosity, a high level of self-motivation, the ability to take instruction and correction, good organizational skills, the ability to work and think independently, and wants to stay at least two years.
• This position will require daily management and handling of the murine colony and associated standard procedures (appropriate training will be provided).
• Previous experience in flow cytometry, tumor biology, and/or immunology, as well as a background working with murine models are desired, but not required.

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.

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Research Technician I: The hourly pay range for this position is from $22.21 to $31.61 and pay offered will be based on experience and qualifications.  
Research Technician II: The hourly pay range for this position is from $25.71 to $36.60 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). 

We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) Employer. We are committed to cultivating a workplace in which diverse perspectives and experiences are welcomed and respected. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, sex, age, disability (physical or mental), marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, political ideology, or membership in any other legally protected class. We are an Affirmative Action employer. We encourage individuals with diverse backgrounds to apply and desire priority referrals of protected veterans. If due to a disability you need assistance/and or a reasonable accommodation during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to Human Resources at hrops@fredhutch.org or by calling 206-667-4700.