Date: January 2021
Title: Senior Research Associate #500
Department: Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology School: Medicine
Location: Wolstein Research Building Room #: 2-126
Supervisor Name and Title: James J. Driscoll, MD, PhD.
Asst. Director – Translational Hematologic Malignancies
POSITION OBJECTIVE: We are seeking applicants to fill a key laboratory position. Candidates will be responsible for organizing and maintaining a patient tissue biorepository. In addition, the successful candidate will be responsible for planning and executing experiments in close collaboration with the Principal Investigator as well as working independently. The lab is working closely together with other PI's in the Division of Hematology & Oncology, the Bone Marrow Transplantation team, and the Institute for Computational Biology. Collaborations have been established with a multidisciplinary team of biochemists, immunologists, and clinicians. The qualified candidate will contribute preliminary data, help to prepare manuscripts and, provide background, significance, preliminary results and experimental design for federal and philanthropic grant proposals. We are currently working on the identification and validation of actionable targets for therapeutic intervention in hematologic malignancies. It is essential that the individual has extensive experience in all of the listed fields of study as well as a high level of experience in cellular, molecular and clinical immunology. A complete list of specialized skills that are required are noted on page 2.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Biorepository- The biorepository provides tools, specimens and resources in biobanking for biomedical research and to enable translational research and precision medicine for patients. The candidate will coordinate with clinicians the acquisition of patient samples, isolation of individual cell types and storage of patient samples and cells. (50%)
Manage and design individual immunology experiments and report in consistent fashion. Techniques that will be utilized include in vitro techniques including expertise in cell culture, cell growth, cell proliferation, apoptosis, western blot, qRT-PCR, cytokine assays and flow cytometry. The candidate will also determine the effect of various small molecule inhibitors, e.g., proteasome inhibitors, on cell viability, functional activity. (20%)
Assist in the isolation of human bone marrow cell types. Techniques that will be utilized include isolation of human bone marrow plasma cells, peripheral blood mononuclear cells and other cell types. (20%)
Assist in the preparation and submission of manuscripts, review articles, abstracts of research and mentored research awards in collaboration with the PI. The candidate may also assist with preparation and submission for grant funding. (5%)
Manage research team, design experiments and manage issues of the scientific method (including positive and negative controls, reproducibility, sample size estimate valuation, trends, troubleshooting and refining techniques into Standard Operating Procedures for lab and lab staff). Ensure careful documentation for all lab staff. (5%)
CONTACTS
Department Staff: The holder of the position will have continuous contact with the PI and may have contact with a Research Assistant. The holder may be asked to manage and guide research assistants with conducting experiments, will assign experimental tasks, will resolve questions and correct scientific errors, and, if required, will recommend disciplinary action
University Faculty: The holder of the position will have moderate contact with collaborating PIs and will be expected to provide information on the status of research projects, the status of submitted manuscripts, and own funding applications.
Students: The holder of the position may have continuous contact with Graduate and/or Medical Students. He or she may manage a student in developing own research projects to further goals of the overall research study. He or she may also supervise and evaluate graduate students who rotate through the laboratory.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: Train and oversee rotation students, provide essential technical advice at bench to graduate students and take part in discussions with them. The holder of the position will have supervisory responsibility including recommending reward or discipline of individuals who he or she will have responsibility for directing, including a research team consisting of graduate student and research assistant.
QUALIFICATIONS
Experience: 5+ years after PhD
Education: PhD in Immunology or Cell Biology
REQUIRED SKILLS
1. High level of experience in cell culture, tissue culture, basic immunologic techniques.
2. Ability to work well with others and ability to work with a high degree of independence.
3. Ability to collect and analyze data with attention to detail and do multiple tasks simultaneously.
4. Effective oral and written communication skills. Good interpersonal skills. Must be able to effectively communicate with the PI/supervisor as well as other lab members and faculty members; ability to work and communicate with various individuals within and external to the University.
5. Good organization skills; ability to multi-task, prioritize and meet deadlines. Must demonstrate attention to detail and accuracy and follow-through on assigned tasks.
6. Self-motivated with excellent problem solving skills. Must demonstrate good analytical skills, sound judgment and good decision-making.
7. Ability to work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality.
8. Ability to operate and oversee issues with laboratory equipment and learn to operate new instruments.
9. Familiarity with policies and procedures of lab and chemical safety and willingness to enforce regulations with lab staff.
10. Knowledge in Microsoft Office (Word, Powerpoint, Excel) and necessary database applications.
11. Willingness to learn new techniques, procedures, processes, and software programs.
12. Ability to organize, maintain and prepare accurate records The following qualities are also greatly valued: highly motivated, responsible, dependable and a self-starter; excellent oral and written communication skills and interpersonal skills; good organization skills; ability to multitask, prioritize and meet deadlines; attention to detail and accuracy; ability to work effectively independently and collaboratively with others on and off campus.
Additional Beneficial Skills:
1. Extensive experience in small molecule inhibitor development.
2. DNA and RNA isolation from blood, plasma, frozen tissue, cell culture and other samples using various techniques.
3. RNA expression analysis using real-time RT-PCR, SYBR Green PCR, and multiplex RTPCR.
4. Molecular cloning amplification, Western blotting, Immunoprecipitation and Co-immunoprecipitation, culture of cancer cell lines, cell signaling experimental design, cell proliferation and apoptosis assays.
5. Image acquisition skills: regular microscope and confocal microscope operation.
6. Computer software skills: Prism, Image J, Photoshop.
WORKING CONDITIONS Working conditions will require working at the bench in a molecular genetics/ biology laboratory, working with mice and other animal models in the laboratory and in the animal facility, and, when needed, working outside standard working days or hours as required by the needs of a given experiment.
DIVERSITY STATEMENT In employment, as in education, Case Western Reserve University is committed to Equal Opportunity and Diversity. Women, veterans, members of underrepresented minority groups, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Interested candidates should email resumes, CVs or biosketches to James J. Driscoll, MD, PhD at jxd626@case.edu.