Assistant Staff Scientist

Department Overview

The Division of Oncological Sciences at OHSU's Knight Cancer Institute focuses on understanding cancer through various research methods. The ultimate goal is to improve cancer prevention, detection, and treatment for everyone. The division's research is conducted by a collaborative team of scientists, faculty, trainees, and staff from diverse backgrounds. They work together to turn lab discoveries into real-world benefits for cancer patients and the wider community. Their research is built around teamwork and covers four key areas: Precision Systems Oncology, Cancer Data Science (including computer biology, bioinformatics, and biostatistics), Chemical Biology and Experimental Therapeutics, and Cancer Population Science. A major priority is to understand cell plasticity, which is the ability of cells to change their type or identity. Researchers are particularly interested in how cells transition from normal to cancerous, from cancer to spreading (metastasis), and from metastasis to becoming resistant to treatment.

 

An exciting opportunity has been created for an experienced researcher to join the Maxson Laboratory at the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute as an Assistant Staff Scientist in Portland, OR. The Maxson Laboratory at the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute is a translational research group focused on the signaling and epigenetic mechanisms that drive myeloid malignancies.

Function/Duties of Position

Position Focus

The Assistant Staff Scientist provides scientific leadership and independently conducts research in the Maxson Lab. The position focuses on:

• Primary human MPN patient sample models
• Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) biology
• Epigenomic profiling
• In vivo mouse studies

 

Core Technical Responsibilities

• Independent design and execution of complex experimental programs
• Primary cell culture of patient-derived leukemia samples and HSPCs
• Genomic library preparation from low-input primary samples (CUT&RUN/CUT&Tag, ATAC-seq, RNA-seq, ChIP-seq)
• CRISPR-based gene editing of primary HSPCs
• Biochemical evaluation of epigenetic and signaling complexes
• Novel target identification, mechanistic validation and evaluation of drug efficacy and synergy
• Lentiviral and retroviral vector production and primary cell transduction
• In vivo mouse studies including xenograft models, bone marrow transplantation, and pharmacologic drug administration
• Sustained management of 3-5 concurrent experimental workstreams, using instrument time, incubation periods, and cell growth windows to advance parallel projects

Required Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in relevant field and and a minimum of 3 years of relevant post-doctoral work experience
• Demonstrated expertise in primary hematopoietic cell biology, myeloid malignancy research, epigenomic profiling, biochemistry, and in vivo mouse modeling
• Evidence of sustained scientific output commensurate with assistant staff scientist classification
• Expertise in long-term culture of primary human leukemia samples and HSPCs
• Proficiency with protein biochemistry including, CoIP, BioID, density centrifugation/gel filtration, immunoblot, tagged protein construct generation/recombinant protein expression and protein purification
• Proficiency in low-input epigenomic and transcriptomic library preparation (CUT&RUN/CUT&Tag, ChIP-seq, RNA-seq)
• Experience with lentiviral/retroviral vector production and primary hematopoietic cell transduction
• Demonstrated proficiency with endogenous CRISPR gene editing and gene knockout in human HSPCs
• Proficiency in myeloid malignancy mouse models (bone marrow transplantation, retroorbital/tail vein injection, pharmacologic drug administration, tissue fixation/sectioning/histology, CBC)
• Advance flow cytometry skills for immunophenotyping of hematopoietic stem and progenitor populations, chimerism analysis, and ability to independently sort populations of interest
• Prior experience with drug screening, assessment of drug IC50s and assessment of drug synergy in mid throughput and high throughput formats
• Experience with immunofluorescence microscopy including antibody based techniques, HiBit tagged protein detection and live cell imaging
• Ability to manage ordering and receiving through Oracle
• Knowledge of IACUC, and biosafety requirements
• Ability to independently develop, optimize, and troubleshoot complex experimental protocols
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent experimental projects
• Commitment to rigorous organizational standards, reproducible records, and current SOPs
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