Research Technician 1/2

Overview

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. 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.

The Walter Lab in the Translational Science & Therapeutics Division is recruiting an outstanding Research Technician I or II to work as part of a team investigating new treatments for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) primarily focused on improving existing, and developing novel, antibody-based immunotherapies, and rendering them safer for clinical application. A main focus of our current work is the optimization of therapies that include radio-labeled antibodies (radioimmunotherapies), primarily using the very potent alpha emitter astatine-211, to direct radiation to normal and neoplastic hematopoietic cells. Additional projects include preclinical drug development/testing (in part with academic and industry partners), studies on mechanisms of action and resistance of antibody-based therapeutics and identification of strategies to overcome these limitations, and development of approaches to protect normal tissues from the toxicities of AML-targeted therapies (e.g. via use of genome editing).

Responsibilities

This Research Technician role will focus on our cell-based in vitro assays. The newly hired research technician will work under the direction of the Principal Investigator and senior laboratory personnel and will be involved in the following techniques/duties:

• Generation and purification of recombinant antibodies and other protein therapeutics via transient and permanent expression systems.
• Conduct of immunization strategies to raise new antibodies.
• Generation of engineered/gene-edited human leukemia cells.
• Using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing via lentiviral transduction or electroporation.
• Mammalian cell culture and maintenance of patient-derived primary human cells.
• Antibody drug conjugate (ADC) cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) assay, T cell and NK cell cytotoxicity assays, in vitro drug combination studies.
• Flow cytometry-based immunophenotyping, FACS isolation of mammalian cells.
• Purification, cloning, and manipulation of RNA, cDNA and genomic DNA.
• Standard DNA cloning methodologies utilizing T4 DNA ligase and Gibson Assembly.
• PCR and RT-PCR, including quantitative assays using qPCR.
• Lentiviral vector modification, lentiviral particle preps and viral transduction.
• Protein gels, immunoprecipitation, western blotting, immunofluorescence microscopy.
• ELISA, antibody biotinylation, AF488 or AF647 conjugation.
• General laboratory duties and maintenance of laboratory equipment.
• Weekly updates on progress and data presentation at lab meeting.
• If interested, there will be opportunities to be involved in vertebrate animal work with various mouse models, including mouse handling, in vivo imaging of mice, and work with radioisotopes to complement our radioimmunotherapy program in support of ongoing mouse studies.

Qualifications

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:

• Bachelor’s degree in a field of biology such as immunology, cell and molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, pathology, bioinformatics or genome sciences.
• Comprehensive laboratory record keeping skills.
• Demonstrated strong organization skills, attention to detail, open to learning, and able to communicate clearly and concisely.
• Experience with cell/tissue culture in BSL-1/-2 setting.
• Basic understanding of and prior exposure to flow cytometry.
• Experience with statistical analysis and data presentation.
• Willingness to potentially work in a supporting role for mouse IVIS imaging if lab staffing/needs change.

To be considered for this role, please submit the following with your application:

• Cover letter discussing your interest in this position
• Curriculum Vitae

Research Technician I: The hourly pay range for this position is from $23.91 to $34.05 and pay offered will be based on experience and qualifications.

Research Technician II: The hourly pay range for this position is from $27.68 to $39.41 and pay offered will be based on experience and qualifications.Although Fred Hutch is not sponsoring most H-1B visas at this time, candidates who already hold an H-1B sponsored by another organization and are currently in the U.S. may be eligible for this position.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), and paid parental leave (up to 4 weeks).

Additional Information

We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) Employer. 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 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 [email protected] or by calling 206-667-4700.