We are looking for a self-motivated researcher to join a team of scientists and physician scientists in the laboratory of Dr. Zuzana Tothova with a joint appointment at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. In this critical role, the senior research associate will function as a member of a multi-disciplinary team of physician scientists, scientists and computational biologists working at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Broad Institute in a fast-paced, cutting-edge project focused on cancer epigenetics, with a specific goal to understand the role of chromatin architecture and find novel therapeutic opportunities in myeloid malignancies, including myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia.

Located in Boston and the surrounding communities, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute brings together world renowned clinicians, innovative researchers and dedicated professionals, allies in the common mission of conquering cancer, HIV/AIDS and related diseases. Combining extremely talented people with the best technologies in a genuinely positive environment, we provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients of all ages; we conduct research that advances treatment; we educate tomorrow's physician/researchers; we reach out to underserved members of our community; and we work with amazing partners, including other Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals.

The candidate will be involved in a series of research activities, including building in vitro and in vivo human disease relevant models, experimental design, testing model systems in cellular and molecular assays, including in a high-throughput manner, use of next generation sequencing as well as molecular and cellular biology experiments with a special emphasis on understanding the biology of human myeloid malignancies.

The candidate is expected to work largely independently on a daily basis after training, and will be closely mentored by a physician scientist. She/he will interact and collaborate closely with other scientists, biologists, chemists and computational biologists and will have an opportunity to lead a group of more junior research technicians over time.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES

• Oversees the maintenance of mouse colony, tissue processing including peripheral blood collection and organ dissection, sample processing and preparation for analysis.
• Performs mouse transplantation experiments, including tail vein, retroorbital and intrafemoral injections
• Performs basic molecular, biochemical and cellular biology experiments to investigate mechanisms that drive hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell transformation to myeloid malignancies
• Performs drug treatment experiments using cell lines, primary cell and mouse models of human disease
• Designs and carries out small independent projects and joins in team efforts for larger scale experiments.
• Documents, compiles, and analyzes experimental data. Reports data in oral and written reports.
• Attends team meetings to shares results, plan projects and experiments.
• Maintains and improves technical knowledge base.
• Operates and maintains laboratory equipment to complete investigations.
• Prepares, orders, and maintains stocks of necessary reagents, solutions and supplies.
• Other related tasks as required.

• Strong interpersonal, communication and organizational skills, including the ability to handle a variety of tasks in a fast-paced environment, positive attitude and attention to detail, as well as ability to think on one’s feet are a required.
• Must possess a high level of initiative, curiosity and dedication, proactivity in identifying problems and solutions to address them.
• Must be a strong team player.
• Extensive mouse experience is a plus.
• Basic computational experience is not required but is a plus.

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor degree in the life sciences or related field required.
• At least two years of experience after college in a molecular biology laboratory setting required.
• Experience with mouse work, basic laboratory techniques and principles of molecular biology required.
• Excellent written, documentation and oral communication skills required.
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to handle a variety of tasks in a fast-paced environment required.
• A minimum of 2 years of lab research experience required.

We are looking for candidates with at least 2 years of availability.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is an equal opportunity employer and affirms the right of every qualified applicant to receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, age, ancestry, military service, protected veteran status, or other groups as protected by law.