Research Lab Tech I/II

Education
Bachelor's Degree Related Field of Study required

Candidates who are in the process of completing their bachelor's degree have a grace period of six months from their hire date (up to 1 year if starting per diem) to provide degree equivalency verification.

Can this role accept experience in lieu of a degree? Yes

Licenses and Credentials

Experience
Prior laboratory experience, either through academic coursework, internships, or employment 1-2 years preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Strong theoretical and practical knowledge of laboratory techniques and procedures.
- Familiarity with common laboratory equipment and instruments used in research experiments.
- Proficiency in data collection, analysis, and scientific software tools.
- Excellent attention to detail, organizational skills, and the ability to multitask and prioritize tasks effectively.
- Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to troubleshoot technical issues.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills to effectively convey experimental procedures, results, and challenges.

We are looking for a Research Technician (I or II) to join the Schmidt Laboratory at Ragon Institute of Mass General, MIT and Harvard (https://schmidtlab.med.harvard.edu/). Our laboratory focuses on immunogen engineering and therapeutics discovery. Using a structure-guided approach, we use protein engineering to design and ultimately test immunogensin vivoaimed at directing and re-directing immune responses. This work aims to understand the molecular 'rules' underlying the development of immune responses and may contribute to the design of vaccines and therapies against pathogens such as influenza, dengue, and coronaviruses. The ideal candidate would have interest in protein biochemistry, biophysics, and virology that is looking to gain research experience before going on to graduate or medical school. The individual will work closely with other lab members including technicians, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows.

Responsibilities could include:

Technical Responsibilities:

• Culturing cells (mammalian, insect, yeast and E. coli)
• Preparing buffers and reagents
• Standard molecular biology techniques (PCR, plasmid preparation, molecular cloning, etc.)
• Standard protein production techniques (cell transfection, column purification, SDS-PAGE, etc.)
• Perform independent literature searches and maintain electronic laboratory notebook
• Opportunities for additional laboratory techniques as needed in conjunction with ongoing projects

Operational Responsibilities:

• Laboratory organization and upkeep
• Equipment and facility support
• Inventory and logistics
• Administrative tasks related to purchasing

The ideal candidate has some basic knowledge and experience with cell culture and protein production techniques and is comfortable responding to shifting project priorities and contributing to time-sensitive experiments as needed. This role is primarily collaborative and support-focused; however, there may be scope for independent research projects depending on experience and project alignment.