Research Assistant I NEUROLOGY knh

Mass General Brigham•Boston, MA

6d•$29•Onsite

About The Position

The Research Assistant I will be positioned within the Khurana Laboratory in the Department of Neurology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and will physically work within the BWH iPSC NeuroHub. This role is designed to support Khurana Lab-driven research projects from a human cell-modeling perspective, with a particular focus on induced pluripotent stem cell-derived models of neurodegenerative disease. The RA will serve as a key operational and technical liaison between Khurana Lab scientists and the BWH iPSC NeuroHub, helping coordinate the generation, maintenance, tracking, and distribution of human iPSC lines and differentiated neural cell types needed for ongoing research programs. The Khurana Lab studies the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying Parkinson’s disease and related neurodegenerative disorders, with a strong emphasis on patient-derived models, human iPSC-based systems, neuronal and glial differentiation, synuclein biology, neurotoxicity, and translational disease modeling. In close collaboration with the BWH iPSC NeuroHub, under the directorship and mentorship of Dr. Christina Muratore, the RA will contribute to the generation and maintenance of high-quality human iPSC-derived cell models and support the use of these models across Khurana Lab projects. The BWH iPSC NeuroHub provides a centralized resource for the BWH neuroscience research community by acquiring, generating, maintaining, characterizing, and distributing human iPSC lines; developing novel differentiation methods and techniques; and educating researchers through seminars, consults, and hands-on support. The NeuroHub serves as an intellectual and technical center for iPSC research, bringing together investigators across BWH and beyond to share expertise and advance human stem cell-based approaches to neurological disease. By embedding this RA role within the NeuroHub, the Khurana Lab aims to strengthen coordination between disease-focused research programs and centralized iPSC expertise, ensuring high-quality cell model generation, rigorous documentation, and efficient access to cell resources. The candidate will work under the co-supervision of a senior member of the Khurana lab and Dr. Christina Muratore. The majority of training activities, technical guidance, and experimental planning will occur under the direct supervision of Dr. Christina Muratore and Neurohub staff. Depending on project needs and the candidate’s experience, the role will include iPSC culture, cell line maintenance and cataloguing, differentiation of iPSCs into neurons and glia, assay development, cell-based phenotyping, longitudinal imaging, flow cytometry, molecular biology, data analysis, and careful documentation of cell line inventory, protocols, and experimental workflows. The ideal candidate will be diligent, highly organized, technically careful, collaborative, and comfortable working across a shared research infrastructure. Provides assistance to the Principal Investigator and Study Team in coordinating research activities that may include conducting a variety of routine experiments with established methodologies, data collection and management, and other research activities as assigned.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science degree in biology, neuroscience, cell biology, molecular biology, biomedical engineering, or a related field.
Prior experience with mammalian cell culture required; experience with human cells, HEK293 cells, immortalized cell lines, or primary cells preferred.
Excellent sterile technique and understanding of tissue culture best practices are essential.
Basic understanding of molecular and cellular biology concepts required.
Medium to high level of computer literacy required, including comfort with spreadsheets, shared databases, digital notebooks, and file organization.
Ability to follow directions and exhibit professionalism.

Nice To Haves

Experience with iPSC culture, stem cell maintenance, neural differentiation, or organoid/neural cell model systems is strongly preferred but not required.
Familiarity with microscopy, longitudinal imaging platforms, flow cytometry, or plate-based cell assays preferred.
Prior experience with inventory management, sample tracking, cell banking, or biorepository-style organization is a plus.
Interest in neurodegenerative disease research, patient-derived models, stem cell biology, and translational neuroscience strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Maintain, passage, catalogue, and culture human iPSC lines used by the Khurana Lab and associated collaborative projects.
Physically work within the BWH iPSC NeuroHub while serving as a dedicated Khurana Lab research assistant supporting Khurana Lab-driven cell model needs.
Coordinate closely between Khurana Lab scientists and the NeuroHub for the generation, differentiation, characterization, and delivery of iPSC-derived cell models.
Support the differentiation of iPSCs into neurons, glia, and other relevant human neural cell types, including aging and maintenance of differentiated cultures as required by specific projects.
Assist with the development, optimization, and execution of cell-based assays relevant to neurodegenerative disease research, including viability, toxicity, phenotypic, imaging-based, and molecular assays.
Maintain a master inventory of all available Khurana Lab cell lines, including iPSC lines, differentiated derivatives, engineered lines, and relevant metadata.
Track cell line provenance, passage number, differentiation status, storage location, quality control information, experimental use, and availability for future experiments.
Serve as the point person for internal Khurana Lab cell requests and assist with external cell-related requests, in coordination with the PI, senior scientists, lab leadership, and NeuroHub policies.
Help establish and maintain clear systems for requesting, approving, logging, transferring, and documenting cell line use within the Khurana Lab and with external collaborators.
Coordinate cell banking, thawing, expansion, freezing, and distribution workflows in collaboration with NeuroHub staff and Khurana Lab scientists.
Assist with quality control practices for iPSC and differentiated cell cultures, including monitoring morphology, growth, contamination, differentiation efficiency, and other relevant parameters.
Maintain excellent sterile technique and follow best practices for human cell culture, iPSC maintenance, and shared tissue culture space use.
Schedule, execute, and monitor longitudinal imaging experiments using platforms such as Incucyte and Nikon Biostation microscopy systems.
Support flow cytometry-based assays, including coordination of Attune flow cytometry use, maintenance, and ordering of related reagents as needed.
Analyze data from microscopy, longitudinal imaging, flow cytometry, western blotting, and other cell-based assays.
Maintain detailed and accurate digital lab notebooks, including documentation in LabArchives or other approved platforms.
Generate, update, and organize Standard Operating Procedures for cell culture, differentiation workflows, imaging assays, inventory management, and cell request processes.
Maintain excellent organizational systems for experiment labeling, sample tracking, file management, reagent tracking, and cell line documentation.
Communicate regularly with Khurana Lab scientists regarding project needs, timelines, cell availability, differentiation schedules, and experimental readiness.
Report routinely to the immediate co-supervisors (Dr. Muratore and senior Khurana lab scientist) and provide regular updates to Dr. Khurana, senior Khurana Lab scientists, and NeuroHub leadership as appropriate.
Participate in troubleshooting discussions with junior and senior members of the Khurana Lab and NeuroHub staff.
Share general lab duties with other technicians and research staff, including maintenance of common spaces, ordering, reagent preparation, and equipment upkeep.
Contribute to a collaborative, collegial research environment that supports both Khurana Lab scientific goals and the broader mission of the BWH iPSC NeuroHub.
Perform other duties and special assignments as needed based on project priorities, lab needs, and NeuroHub-related workflows.
Responsible for data collection, management, manipulation, analysis, and reporting.
Study cohort management.
Outreach communication with subjects, conducting mailings, follow-up on mailings, and obtaining necessary documents.
Provides assistance on work related to epidemiological studies and other population-based research.