Research Associate II - The Gerstner Center

About the role

The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard is seeking an outstanding candidate for a Research Associate position focused on preclinical development of a new frontier of diagnostic drugs for liquid biopsy cancer detection and monitoring within the Gerstner Center for Cancer Diagnostics and Broad Cancer Program. The Gerstner Center aims to develop blood biopsies among other cancer diagnostics that stand to benefit millions of patients worldwide. The successful candidate will use animal models to optimize and apply novel methods for tracking circulating tumor DNA in blood. The goal of this work is to generate the preclinical evidence in animal models needed to translate new blood biopsy assays to patients. This exciting position offers the opportunity to join a multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, medical oncologists, and computational biologists, spanning the Broad Institute, MIT, Harvard, and Harvard-affiliated hospitals. The successful candidate will gain exposure to cutting-edge science through meetings, symposia, and interactions with colleagues and collaborators, and will help establish impactful new methods.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily care and health monitoring for laboratory animals (mice and rats), in coordination with vivarium staff.
• Perform in vivo technical procedures in mice and rats in accordance with approved IACUC protocols, including tumor cell implantation (subcutaneous, orthotopic and metastatic models), dosing and administration (e.g., oral gavage, IP/IV injections), IVIS imaging, and sample collections (e.g. retro-orbital blood draws, tissue fluid sampling), using appropriate handling, anesthesia and analgesia.
• Perform humane endpoint procedures and tissue harvesting; harvesting following approved protocols; process tumor, blood, and tissue samples.
• Adhere to Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) protocols, AAALAC standards, and USDA and institutional regulations; promptly report animal health or welfare concerns to veterinary staff.
• Maintain accurate digital health records, daily census logs, room documentation, and detailed experimental records.
• Work with lab members and collaborators to design, conduct, analyze, and troubleshoot in vivo experiments.
• Other related tasks as required.

Qualifications

• B.S. in biomedical sciences or a related field with 2+ years' experience, or M.S. with hands-on experience in mouse handling, tumor implantation, in vivo drug dosing, in vivo imaging and blood sampling.
• Highly motivated to develop better ways to diagnose and monitor patients with cancer.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and organizational skills, including the ability to concurrently handle multiple tasks in a highly collaborative team setting.
• Working knowledge of IACUC protocols and laboratory animal care and use regulations.
• AALAS certification (ALAT/LAT) preferred.

Pay

Pay Range: $58,000.00/yr - $80,667.00/yr (based on a 40 hour per week schedule).

Schedule

Full-time, 40 hours per week.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Flexible spending and health savings accounts
• At least 13 paid holidays
• Winter closure
• Paid time off
• Parental and family care leave
• Employee assistance program

The Broad Institute will not offer visa sponsorship for this opportunity.