02/21/2023
Please find the description of the position located below. To apply, applicants have to apply through Harvard University external candidate job portal (Research Assistant 61388BR).
Research Assistant 61388BR
Position Description :
We are seeking a highly motivated and independent individual for a full-time research technician position in Drs. Bernardo Sabatini and Marcia Haigis laboratories at Harvard Medical School. The research technician will work primarily with Dr. Annie Hsieh, a neuro-oncology clinical fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital and Dana Farber Cancer Center and a postdoctoral fellow co-mentored by Drs. Bernardo Sabatini and Marca Haigis, to investigate the genetic and metabolic vulnerability of glioma using CRISPR screen technology and the glioma-interacting neurons using viral tracing techniques. Our research is broadly interested in the molecular mechanism and neuronal microenvironment of the deadliest brain tumor-glioblastoma. We use a wide range of techniques including cell culture, RT-PCR, Western blot, mass spectrometry, intracranial injection, immunohistochemistry, and advanced microscopy to study how glioma cells respond to metabolic challenges in culture conditions and in the brain.
The technician’s daily responsibilities include tissue culture to maintain glioma cell lines and patient-derived glioma neurospheres, validate the genetic hits from the CRISPR screen by conducting growth curve of the cell lines/patient-derived glioma neurospheres, cloning and viral packaging to create virus for genetic perturbation, confirm genetic perturbation of the cells/tissues by performing RT-PCR and Western blot, perform intracranial injection of glioma cell lines/patient-derived glioma neurospheres and monitor animal health and the tumor growth by animal imaging, perform mouse brain perfusion, dissection and slicing, perform RNA in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry to assess the spatial protein expression, perform imaging acquisition and analysis, perform data analysis and graphing. The technician will spend 50% of the time at Sabatini lab and 50% of the time at Haigis lab every week, participate lab meetings in both labs and fulfill lab responsibilities from both labs. The technician will learn and perform experiments with Dr. Annie Hsieh side by side and meet with her weekly to discuss experimental plan and data interpretation.
Prior laboratory experience is required, as well as strong organizational skills and an eagerness to learn. Successful candidates will be independent, outgoing, flexible, self-motivated, and able to assimilate new information and execute quickly. You will have the opportunity to direct the research project while taking advantage of the intelligent, diverse, welcoming, and exciting team of researchers at both the Sabatini lab and Haigis lab.
Basic Qualifications :
One-year related lab experience. Advanced education may count towards experience.
Additional Qualifications and Skills :
Bachelor's or Master’s degree with prior experience in a wet lab environment. A major in Neuroscience, Biology, and Chemistry is preferred.
Excellent organizational and communication skills are required.
Experience in one or more of the following techniques would be preferred: cell culture, biochemistry techniques, mouse intracranial surgery, and histological preparations.
Experience or willingness to work with mice, manage a mouse colony and perform survival and non-survival procedures as necessary.
Analytical skills to resolve problems that require the use of basic scientific, mathematical, or technical principles. Some experience with programming, using R and/or Python is preferred.
Candidates should be communicative with excellent interpersonal skills, attentive to detail, organized, and thoughtful about the protocols and techniques being executed
Creativity, flexibility, and perseverance to troubleshoot and overcome inevitable experimental difficulties and changing experimental goals in light of new results.
Kindly let me know how to best reach the target audience of graduating seniors or recently graduated students and let me know if you have any additional questions.
