Senior Research Associate, Cancer Immunology

Job Summary

As a key member of our Cancer Immunology team in this lab-based role, you will serve as the primary point of contact for flow cytometry operations.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Managing flow cytometer instruments:
  • Perform daily startup, quality control (QC), routine maintenance, and performance verification of flow cytometers and cell sorters.
  • Troubleshoot instrument issues and coordinate repairs and preventative maintenance with external vendors as needed.
  • Maintain inventories of instrument consumables and reagents.
• Performing routine flow cytometry assays:
  • Execute sample preparation and acquisition workflows, including sample handling, processing, and staining, in compliance with established SOPs.
  • Perform antibody titrations to optimize staining conditions for new and existing panels, and support spectral panel optimization, including fluorophore selection and spectral unmixing.
  • Perform data acquisition and analysis.
  • Optimize sample preparation, staining, and acquisition methods.
• Providing technical support:
  • Train new users on instrument startup, QC procedures, sample acquisition, and best laboratory practices.
  • Assist scientists with experimental design and flow cytometry workflows.
  • Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) for instrument operation and flow cytometry assays.
  • Manage flow cytometer instrument data, including storage, backup, and export of flow cytometry files.
  • Monitor and evaluate emerging flow cytometry technologies, reagents, and workflows to maintain up-to-date knowledge of novel dyes, fluorochromes, instrumentation, and assay standards.
  • Manage flow cytometry core calendaring.

Requirements and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or Master's degree in Science with 3+ years of experience in a cell biology/cellular assay development role. The title will be adjusted according to experience.
• Deep expertise with multi-color spectral flow cytometry assays.
• High proficiency in designing high-parameter flow panels and running experiments independently, including sample handling, cell staining, and data acquisition and analysis.
• Highly organized and proactive, with a demonstrated ability to identify opportunities to improve laboratory workflows and operational efficiency.
• Rigorous and quantitative approach, strong attention to detail, and excellent record-keeping skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to facilitate collaboration with project and departmental teams.
• Innovative, proactive team player who thrives in a fast-paced drug discovery and development environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience as a Flow Cytometry core manager.
• Prior experience working with Cytek Aurora flow cytometer and SH800S sorter.
• Hands-on experience with primary immune cells, including human PBMC handling, isolation, and differentiation.
• Immuno-oncology assays, including immune cell phenotypic and functional characterization by flow cytometry (T cell proliferation, suppression and killing assays, antigen presentation assays, phagocytosis assays, etc.).
• Prior experience utilizing electronic laboratory notebooks.

Desired Skills and Experience

• Flow Cytometry, Multi-Color Spectral Flow Cytometry, High-Parameter Flow Panel Design, Flow Cytometer and Cell Sorter Operations, Instrument Quality Control, Instrument Maintenance and Troubleshooting, Performance Verification, Vendor Coordination, Sample Preparation and Processing, Cell Staining, Antibody Titration, Fluorophore Selection, Spectral Unmixing, Data Acquisition and Analysis, Assay and Workflow Optimization, Cellular Assay Development, Cell Biology, Cancer Immunology, Immuno-Oncology, Experimental Design, SOP Development, User Training, Flow Cytometry Data Management, Laboratory Operations, Inventory Management, Primary Immune Cells, Human PBMC Isolation and Differentiation, Immune Cell Phenotyping, Functional Cell Assays, T Cell Proliferation, Suppression and Killing Assays, Antigen Presentation Assays, Phagocytosis Assays, Cytek Aurora, SH800S Cell Sorter, Electronic Laboratory Notebooks, Scientific Documentation, Drug Discovery and Development, Cross-Functional Collaboration