Department: MED-Neurological Surgery
Salary/Grade: NEX/11

Job Summary:

The Laboratory of Dr. Irina Balyasnikova in the Department of Neurological Surgery within the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine requires a research technologist to contribute to daily operations within the lab. The lab's mission is to perform research focusing on the development of immunotherapy for brain tumors. The lab is funded to develop genetically engineered CAR T cells and recombinant antibody-based proteins to optimize their performance in glioblastoma. The lab's focus is on developing CAR T cells and immune stimulatory engineered antibody proteins. This work will involve the use of cell lines and human specimens, biochemistry, immunology, cell, and molecular biology. Another interest of the lab on developing approaches for efficient delivery of therapeutics to brain tumors. The lab actively utilizes various imaging modalities to assist in a better understanding of tumor behavior and distribution of therapeutics in experimental models of disease.

The incumbent will be involved in: supports brain tumor research to study CAR T cells, engineered antibody and drug therapeutics, as well as handles mice with brain tumors for studying tumor development and responses to described therapies; conducts experimental research lab work and/or assists in design of one or more specific phase(s) of entire project(s); may complete mathematical calculations, and/or computer tasks and/or assist in judging validity of data; follows appropriate protocols, policies, procedures, regulations, Good Clinical and Good Laboratory Practices.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Follows protocols, designs, sets-up and conducts basic experiments.
• Analyzes and troubleshoots protocols and data obtained from individual experiments and recommends alternatives and suggestions to improve processes, validity and/or accuracy.
• Maintains detailed records of results including entering data in the computer and performing data analyses.
• Tracks & summarizes lab supply expenses &/or verifies accuracy of invoices. Orders &/or maintains inventory of reagent, mice &/or lab supplies.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Molecular Biology:

• DNA, RNA, Protein isolation, purification, and expression
• Southern, Northern, Western blotting,
• PCR, RT-PCR

Immunology:

• ELISA, Elispot assay
• Flow cytometry

Cellular Biology:

• Cell culture, cell isolation, cryogenic storage
• Functional studies

Histology:

• Tissue fixation/processing: embedding
• preparation of blocks and sectioning

Animal:

• Husbandry
• Breeding and screening transgenic mice

Minimum Qualifications: (Education, experience, and any other certifications or clearances)

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in a scientific major or related; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Demonstrated laboratory experience.
• Demonstrated ability to follow detailed instructions as required by research protocols.
• Demonstrated computer skills, including spreadsheets and basic computations.
• Attention to detail, accurate record keeping.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
• Manual dexterity.

Preferred Qualifications: (Education and experience)

• Bachelor of Science in biological sciences.
• Experience with techniques related to immunology field.
• Demonstrated laboratory experience working with mouse models, including preparing media, culturing cancer cell lines, harvesting cells from mouse and human tissues, performing visibility studies using experimental therapeutics.
• Experience performing experiments to modify and characterize primary cells and cell lines, cloning and preparing plasmids for modification of cells.
• Experience working on brain tumor or translational cancer research.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Molecular biology: DNA and RNA isolation from mammalian cell cultures and human tissues, immunoprecipitation, cloning, mapping and sequencing of DNA, recombinant virus production and purification. Preparation of plasmids and viral particles for silencing and over-expression experiments.
• Cell Culture-related skills: establishment of cell preparations from mouse/human tumors to generate cell lines, mammalian cell cultures, antibiotic-selection, transfection, transduction.
• Immunology-related skills: immune cells activation and suppression assays, phenotyping, immunofluorescent staining using flow cytometry and fluorescent microscope.
• Protein Characterization: Isolation of proteins from whole cell and nuclear extracts, protein quantification, Western Blot, immune-precipitation, ELISA
• Animal Experiment Abilities: perform animal experiments using mouse models, breed transgenic mouse strains, genotype mice, perform intracranial tumor cell injections, perform systemic and intratumorally drug delivery procedures, monitor tumor growth, follow mice for survival analysis, perform dissection of brain and other organs, analyze the data and present it.
• Computer Proficiency: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access), including creating spreadsheets and effectively managing databases.
• Research Project Integrity: Strong planning, organization, and time management skills; precise recordkeeping and production of reliable results; adherence to ethical standards of research; ensuring compliance with IACUC protocols and adherence to institutional safety and responsible research standards.
• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills, including contributing to scientific publications and presentations related to experiments.

Target hiring range for this position will be between $18.68 - $21.07 per hour. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.

#LI-ER1