Research Assistant | Laboratory of Systems Cancer Biology
About the Organization
Cancer remains a daunting problem despite decades of active research into its molecular causes. Such studies have predominantly focused on the earliest stages of cancer progression, such as the formation of a cancer or genes involved in the growth of the primary tumor. In humans afflicted by cancer, the primary tumor is typically surgically resected or eliminated by radiation. Vast numbers of patients, nonetheless, die of cancer as a result of metastasis or the spread of cancer cells from the primary tumor site to distal organs. This process is, in fact, the overwhelming cause of death from cancer, and its occurrence changes a patient's prognosis to incurable. Despite its vast clinical significance and inherently fascinating underlying biology, the metastatic program is poorly understood both at the molecular level and at the cellular/tissue micro-environment levels.
Our laboratory employs a multi-disciplinary approach involving molecular, biochemical, computational, imaging, and clinical association methods to characterize the critical regulatory pathways that mediate the steps of this process. By implanting human cancer cells obtained from patients with breast or colon cancer into recipient mice, we study and interfere with the various stages of metastasis. By comparing human cancer cells that are highly metastatic to those that fail to metastasize, we have uncovered a set of small RNA molecules (microRNAs) that suppress metastasis. Our future work is aimed at gaining a better understanding of the mechanisms by which these microRNAs block metastasis. Our hope is that a better understanding of this process will enhance our therapeutic arsenal against it.
About the Role
The Research Assistant will support ongoing studies in cancer biology by performing a range of experimental, organizational, and analytical tasks within the Tavazoie Laboratory.
Responsibilities
- Performing cell culture experiments
- Executing Western blots
- Working with rodent models
- Assisting with molecular and cellular experiments
- Maintaining laboratory stocks and reagents
- Performing routine data collection and documentation
- Supporting day-to-day lab operations
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in biological sciences is required
Pay
The salary range for this role is $50,000 to $55,000 per year, based on factors including organizational budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training.