Research Technician II

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.

This research opportunity for a Research Technician II is with the Warren Lab in the Division of Translational Science and Therapeutics. The technician will contribute to ongoing projects in the lab, and depending on the level of experience, design and implement new research strategies. A major focus of the lab is identifying peptides that are encoded by Kaposi Sarcoma Herpesvirus (KSHV), presented by class I MHC molecules, and recognized by T-cell receptors (TCRs) present on CD8+ T cells in the Kaposi sarcoma tumor microenvironment.

The technician will be responsible for designing lentiviral TCR vectors to engineer human Jurkat-TCR signaling reporter and primary human CD8+ T cells with these TCRs. They will evaluate the ability of these T cells to stimulate TCR signaling, secrete cytokines, and kill target cells expressing KHSV-ORFs, minigenes, or peptides and the relevant HLA genes. Assays include flow cytometry, chromium release, and ELISA. The technician may also assist in organizing and cataloging our KS patient specimen biorepository, and the implementation of innovative techniques for high throughput TCR repertoire profiling. A second current major focus of the lab is developing methods to isolate tumor reactive T cells from the renal cell carcinoma tumor microenvironment. This involves harvesting and archiving tumor tissue isolated from cancer-related nephrectomies, generating single cell RNA sequencing data, using machine learning to predict markers of clonally expanded and tumor reactive T cells, using flow cytometry sorting to isolate them from tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, and evaluating their capacity for ex vivo expansion and cytotoxicity against primary autologous tumor cell lines.

Interact in a collaborative environment under the guidance of the PI and staff scientists to accomplish project goals.
• Use established lab protocols to conduct T-cell functional assays in support of the above projects.
• Keep detailed notes and maintain a high level of advance planning, organization, and accuracy.
• Document unexpected outcomes and troubleshoot routine assay failures.
• Process and archive incoming nephrectomy specimens.
• Analyze data and present research progress regularly at group meetings.
• Assist with ordering supplies, submitting cell lines for DNA fingerprinting and mycoplasma testing, and maintaining lab equipment.
• Assist with reorganizing and documenting the liquid nitrogen cell specimen collection
• Preparation of figures for manuscripts and grant applications.
• Willing to work 40 hours per week on site with active communication.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• 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:

• Experience with sterile tissue culture, molecular biology, and flow cytometry.
• Experience with R, Python, and AI to analyze data.
• Flexible and willing to work some evenings and weekends as needed for time-sensitive experiments.
• Extensive experience in sterile tissue culture, molecular biology, and flow cytometry.
• Experience in T-cell immunology.

Application Instructions:

To be considered for this role, please include a CV and a brief statement describing your research experience, technical skills, and interest in the lab's work with your application.

The hourly pay range for this position is from $27.01 to $38.45 and pay offered will be based on experience and qualifications.

This position may be eligible for relocation assistance.

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).