GENERAL SUMMARY/ OVERVIEW STATEMENT:

This position will contribute to projects in the laboratories of the Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center on the 5th floor of the MGH East Research Center, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA.

Primary research activities will include statistical and computational analysis of high-dimensional data sets derived from high-parameter imaging technologies (e.g. Imaging Mass Cytometry, Mass Spectrometry Imaging, RNAscope) and other complimentary assays, using a suite of publicly available and in-house developed tools. Experience with standard programming languages (e.g. R, Python), linux cluster computing, and statistical models are highly preferred. Opportunities to conduct bench to patient bedside experiments and engage with non-imaging projects may be available. Of particular importance is adherence to institutional and federal requirements regarding patient privacy and data integrity in the management of electronic data. This position will work with laboratory investigators and the VIC administrator under the direct supervision of the VIC Director and senior scientists to carry out assigned functions related to laboratory operations and research projects.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

A highly motivated individual researcher with experience in mathematics and/or computational biology and familiarity with laboratory research will contribute to the analysis of data derived from imaging of complex biological samples. The candidate will be expected to develop and/or demonstrate proficiency in analysis of high-parameter imaging data (generated from Imaging Mass Cytometry and Mass Spec Imaging) and subsequent statistical testing to identify relationships to experimental and clinical data . There is additional opportunity to refine current approaches and develop novel methods for data analysis.

Applicant should have the fundamental skills necessary to plan and execute data analysis strategies in a semi-independent manner, including interpretation and troubleshooting. Work will comprise the implementation of existing analysis pipelines in Python and R, as well as the refinement and development on additional ones. The position will require analysis of diverse sets of information and data to form a cohesive and thoughtful hypothesis and contributing to the design of experiments to drive the project forward. The applicant should be able to work well with a team of investigators with diverse expertise to develop and implement novel analysis pipelines. Also essential is the preparation of presentations and reports to provide a platform to summarize experimental accomplishments and learning experiences.

Excellent record keeping skills are an absolute requirement. Detailed accounting of planning, execution, and analysis of experiments is mandatory. This position will entail an integral role in collaborative research projects; therefore excellent communication skills, detailed record keeping, protocol standardization, and attention to organization are essential elements of the role. The incumbent will be expected to contribute 5-10% of their effort to laboratory organization and management.

. SKILLS/ABILITIES/COMPETENCIES REQUIRED:

1. Basic competency with Microsoft Office Suite: MS Word, MS Excel, MS Powerpoint.
2. Highly organized and methodical.
3. Ability to follow detailed oral and written instructions.
4. Effective written and oral communication skills.
5. Able to work constructively in team settings.
6. Working in collaborative projects between academia and industry
7. Basic competency in applied mathematics (linear algebra, discrete math, and familiarity of applied mathematics for analysis of biological datasets, including self-organizing maps, k-means clustering, and neural networks) and statistics and use of associated computational tools such as Prism, MATLAB, R, and Python.
8. Familiarity with the basic concepts of immunology will be a plus, as will experience with digital image analysis.

Qualifications

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor's degree or higher in mathematics, statistics, computer science, or similar discipline.
• Masters degree preferred

EXPERIENCE:

• Those with a minimum of 1 year of directly related work experience will be considered for a Research Technician II position.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY (if applicable):

• A Research Technician II may serve as a team leader to lab assistants and Research Technician I's.

EEO Statement

Massachusetts General Hospital is an Equal Opportunity Employer. By embracing diverse skills, perspectives and ideas, we choose to lead. Applications from protected veterans and individuals with disabilities are strongly encouraged.