Research Assistant III - Immune Organs-on-Chip

26-Oct-2024

Research Assistant III - Immune Organs-on-Chip

Wyss Institute at Harvard University

67136BR

Job Summary

About Us:

The Wyss Institute’s mission is to transform healthcare and the environment by emulating the way nature builds. We harness the imagination of academia and the focus of industry to translate ground-breaking technologies into commercial products that solve big problems. We support research that universities, companies, and venture capital firms don’t fund because they view it as too risky.  We prefer to use the word “challenging,” and we love challenges. For more information discover our technologies, catch up on our recent news, or watch our latest videos

About You:

You are a collaborative, impact-focused problem solver who wants to be part of a dynamic team dedicated to creating and commercializing novel approaches to global challenges in healthcare and sustainability. You want the opportunity to explore your scientific interests and apply your knowledge to tackle ambitious projects in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial- minded environment with resources and support from top-notch scientific, operations, and administrative professionals. You enjoy working with highly motivated, diverse teams and leveraging your expertise to create innovations that can change the world.

About the role:

We are looking for a research assistant to join the Intestine and Immune Organs on Chip team in Dr. Don Ingber's laboratory. We are using immune organs-on-chip to study vaccines, solid tumors, and Lyme Disease. We are using Intestine Organ on Chip to study and model the intestinal tract and microbiome and its influences on diseases, such as malnutrition- associated with environmental enteric dysfunction (EED), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and radiation-induced injury, as well as therapeutic responses. With our work, we hope to understand what makes a vaccine effective, create an implantable therapy for cancer, as well as incubate a startup that will design novel Lyme Disease therapeutics. Furthermore, the organ-chip model of intestinal injuries will help us to understand the molecular, genetic and nutritional bases of the disease and the testing of candidate therapeutics for it.

Reporting to the Principal Scientist leading the team, you will support these studies with the potential to become the go-to person for specific aspects of these research projects. You will learn cutting-edge human immunology and organ-on-chip techniques and may also be exposed to gene editing technology. The ideal candidate is comfortable learning and doing different types of tasks within the same week, has had diverse research experiences, and works well within a team.  

Position Description

What You'll Do: 

• Train with the intestine and immune organs on chip team to isolate human immune cells and collaborate with them to set up different types of cocultures.
• Learn and perform laboratory techniques such as immune assays, qPCR, etc.; independently conduct planned experiments with guidance from senior staff.
• Read scientific literature to learn key concepts and state-of-the-art techniques.
• Accurately and thoroughly document experimental observations and protocols and write/update standard operating procedures.
• Follow Harvard's best practices for data storage and sharing experimental records with the team. Order supplies/consumables and maintain shared stocks.
• Maintain tissue culture facilities, including daily maintenance of tissue culture equipment such as hoods, incubators, and water baths.
• Collaborate with other teams at the Wyss Institute or in other institutions to provide project support as needed. As an example, you may be asked to provide cells for exciting projects happening around the institute.
• Contribute to the writing of journal articles, reviews, and patents
• Train other members of the team in specific techniques and/or best practices
• Demonstrate a commitment to the Wyss Institute’s community values of courage, collaboration, innovation, impact, diversity, and respect through actions, interactions, and communications with others

Basic Qualifications

What you'll need:  

• Bachelor's degree in cell biology, biomedical engineering, or related fields is required.  
• At least 2 years of experience involving aseptic mammalian cell culture is required including endpoint analysis (ELISA, qPCR, western, or imaging). An advanced degree may count towards years of experience. 

Additional Qualifications and Skills

Desirable Skills:  

• A Master's degree in Biological Science such as Molecular Biology, Immunology, or equivalent post-Bachelor’s professional experience is preferred.  
• Proficiency with personal computers and Microsoft software packages is essential.  
• Strong organizational and communication skills to aid in interaction with multidisciplinary groups of biologists, engineers, and technology innovators.  
• Able to work in chemical and biological laboratory environments.  

Additional Information

This is a one year term position with the possibility of renewal.

Harvard is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.

Offer contingent on successful completion of pre-placement medical evaluation

Why you’ll like working with us: 

At the Wyss Institute, you’re a member of a supportive, dynamic community that is united by its shared goal of changing the world through groundbreaking technology development and commercialization. We uphold our shared community values of courage, collaboration, innovation, impact, diversity, and respect in order to create an environment where everyone feels empowered to do their best work and contribute their unique skills and experience to supporting our mission and each other. You can learn more here. We encourage your professional growth and development through mentorship and tuition reimbursement to support continued learning, and more. We also support your physical, financial, and mental well-being through generous time off benefits, gym reimbursements, and other programs offered through Harvard. Our community is located in a new, state of the art life sciences building in the lively Fenway neighborhood where you have access to multiple amenities including a roof terrace with stunning views of Boston and proximity to numerous restaurants and cultural attractions. We value an inclusive and diverse workforce, and believe that our differences enrich the work environment for all.

Not ready to apply? Join our talent community to stay up to date on career information and the latest news from the Wyss Institute.  

Work Format Details

This is an in-person position based on our campus in Boston.

Benefits

We invite you to visit Harvard's Total Rewards website (https://hr.harvard.edu/totalrewards) to learn more about our outstanding benefits package, which may include:

• Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks for administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal days per year (prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary care givers.
• Health and Welfare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start date.
• Work/Life and Wellness: Child and elder/adult care resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.
• Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
• Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.
• Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.
• Commuting and Transportation: Various commuter options handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking, half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit passes, biking benefits, and more.
• Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks: Access to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more, as well as discounts to various types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.

Job Function

Research

Department Office Location

USA - MA - Boston

Job Code

403116 Research Assistant III Lab

Work Format

On-Site

Sub-Unit

------------

Salary Grade

054

Department

Wyss Institute

Union

55 - Hvd Union Cler & Tech Workers

Time Status

Full-time

Pre-Employment Screening

Criminal, Education, Identity

Schedule

Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

As a collaborative organization, we at the Wyss Institute know that great innovation happens when diverse perspectives come together to solve problems. As a result, we are committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness both in and out of the lab. When recruiting for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that you will bring in terms of education, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, religion, disability, and sexual orientation. We believe these differences in background, experience, and perspective enrich our work environment and are essential to our mission of solving complex problems through technology development and translation

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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