Research Technician - Horvitz Lab

Primary Work Address: 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139

Current HHMI Employees, click here to apply via your Workday account.

About the Role:

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) advances the discovery and sharing of scientific knowledge to benefit us all. As a biomedical research organization and philanthropy, HHMI supports a vibrant community of academic researchers, educators, students, and professionals. Together, we are unlocking the fundamentals of biology and building an open, inclusive future for science.

We are actively seeking a Research Technician to join the laboratory of Dr. H. Robert Horvitz at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA.

This individual will join an integrative team studying molecular mechanisms of cellular fate determination and programmed cell death using the nematode roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). The team uses genetic, molecular, cell biological, and behavioral approaches. More information can be found at the following website: https://biology.mit.edu/profile/h-robert-horvitz

Please note: This is a fixed-term position with an anticipated end date not to exceed August 31, 2027, aligned with current HHMI funding for the lab.

Application Instructions

Please include the following as part of your application:

• A copy of your resume and a cover letter.

• Your university transcript (an unofficial transcript is acceptable if an official version is not available)

• A list of three professional references, including names, phone numbers, and email addresses

What We Provide

• A competitive compensation package with comprehensive health and wellness benefits

• The opportunity to join a vibrant research community at MIT

• Close collaboration with an interactive, multidisciplinary team of scientists, with opportunities to contribute to research publications

• Career mentorship to support professional growth and help you achieve your long-term goals

• An excellent opportunity for individuals considering graduate school, with potential for meaningful research contributions and authorship.

What You Will Do:

• Mutagenesis screens

• C. elegans strain creation (genetic crosses, CRISPR, transgenesis, PCR genotyping, etc.)

• Molecular cloning

• Microscopy (e.g., imaging fluorescent proteins in C. elegans)

• Data analysis (image processing, quantification, statistics, etc.)

• C. elegans husbandry (animal maintenance, etc.)

• Assist with general laboratory maintenance

What You Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree, with a strong academic record

• Completed coursework in biology, statistics, genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, and/or cell biology.

• Experience in a research laboratory beyond coursework (e.g., experience gained as an undergraduate) and ambition to become a professional biological researcher.

• Demonstrable organizational, critical-thinking, time-management, and verbal and written communication skills; attention to detail, including ability to follow protocols and rigorous documentation skills necessary in a professional laboratory setting; ability to work both with others and independently; and awareness of and ability to follow safety procedures and maintain a safe work environment.

• Preferred: experience with molecular cloning; basic computational skills for data processing and presentation (Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, ImageJ, etc.); experience with C. elegans would be helpful, but is not essential.

Physical Requirements

Remaining in a normal seated or standing position for extended periods of time; reaching and grasping by extending hand(s) or arm(s); dexterity to manipulate objects with fingers, for example using a keyboard; communication skills using the spoken word; ability to see and hear within normal parameters; ability to move about workspace. The position requires mobility, including the ability to move materials weighing up to several pounds (such as a laptop computer or tablet). Work may involve possible exposure to malodorous vapors, low dose radiation, contamination by toxic chemicals and acids and presence of carcinogenic substances or other hazardous materials.