Research Technician

Site: The General Hospital Corporation

 

Mass General Brigham relies on a wide range of professionals, including doctors, nurses, business people, tech experts, researchers, and systems analysts to advance our mission. As a not-for-profit, we support patient care, research, teaching, and community service, striving to provide exceptional care. We believe that high-performing teams drive groundbreaking medical discoveries and invite all applicants to join us and experience what it means to be part of Mass General Brigham.

 

 

Job Summary

Summary: 
Carries out a broad range of technically advanced research activities and procedures; evaluates conclusions and has considerable latitude to modify or devise methods and techniques as necessary to achieve desired results; typically supervises technical and sometimes administrative elements of the research unit.  Helps onboard new staff and train them in the lab.

Essential Functions: Develop or have input into modifications of existing assay techniques, experimental protocols, or new procedures.
-Synthesizes and interprets results.
-Prepares written and/or verbal status reports.
-Performs statistical analysis and makes recommendations.
-Independently performs non-routine, highly specialized experimental procedures.
-Composes and may present sections of research reports and manuscripts.

 

Qualifications

A laboratory research technician position is available in the lab of Dr. Steven Blum at the MGH Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research (KF-CCR). The Blum Lab aims to develop safer and more effective immunotherapy strategies for patients with solid tumors. Using patient samples, systems immunology approaches, and disease-relevant models, the lab will investigate the cellular and molecular drivers of treatment toxicity and resistance. Current efforts focus on two major challenges:

1. Understanding immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and their relationship to anti-tumor immunity in patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors.
2. Investigating peritoneal metastases and malignant ascites, a common complication of advanced cancers associated with poor survival. Initial projects are particularly focused on patients with gastric and esophageal cancers.

Our long-term goal is to uncover broadly applicable principles that inspire new therapeutic strategies and improve clinical care by maximizing anti-tumor immunity while minimizing harm.

The Blum Lab is located in a state-of-the-art research building on the main MGH campus, surrounded by world-class investigators across multiple disciplines. The lab is affiliated with the MGH Department of Medicine, the MGH Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, and the Broad Institute of MIT & Harvard, providing access to cutting-edge technologies and opportunities for collaboration across Boston’s vibrant biomedical community. It is a demanding and fast-paced environment that requires hard work, attention to detail, and an ability to interact well with others as part of a cohesive group. The lab values teamwork, scientific rigor, and curiosity, and it is committed to providing a supportive training environment for motivated scientists.

This position offers the opportunity to learn and employ systems immunology techniques, perform patient-derived ex vivo and in vitro functional assays, and apply single-cell genomics tools to address critical questions in human tumor immunology and autoimmunity. The role involves work in biosafety level 1, 2, and 2+ (BL1–BL2+) laboratory environments. Research technicians will be expected to work both independently and collaboratively with investigators, staff, clinicians, fellows, and students.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Design and conduct bench-level experiments, in consultation with the Principal Investigator.
• Lead small independent research projects.
• Perform laboratory experiments, which may include the following (note: knowledge of all techniques is not required to apply):
  • Isolation and purification of primary cells from human and mouse samples
  • Flow cytometry and cell sorting
  • Cell culture for ex vivo and in vitro functional assays
  • Fluorescence microscopy and image analysis
  • Cellular perturbation using genetic and mRNA-based approaches
  • Single-cell RNA/DNA/protein/ATAC-sequencing and spatial transcriptomics
  • Molecular cloning
  • Molecular biology techniques (DNA/RNA isolation, PCR, qPCR, sequencing library prep)
• Analyze experimental results, troubleshoot protocols, and suggest improvements.
• Document, compile, and interpret experimental data; maintain accurate laboratory records of samples, cell lines, and reagents.
• Operate, manage, and maintain complex lab equipment, inclu