Research Associate I

City of Hope • Duarte, CA

4d

About The Position

Join the forefront of groundbreaking research at the Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, where we're changing lives and making a real difference in the fight against cancer, diabetes, and other life-threatening illnesses. Our dedicated and compassionate faculty and staff are driven by a common mission: Contribute to innovative approaches in predicting, preventing, and curing diseases, shaping the future of medicine through cutting-edge research.
We are looking for a Research Associate I who will play an integral role in advancing innovative research within the Thymus Research Group in the van den Brink Laboratory.
The van den Brink Lab is a leading translational immunology laboratory at City of Hope focused on cancer immunology, hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), and cellular therapies including CAR T cells. The Thymus Research Group specifically investigates thymic regeneration, T cell development, immune tolerance, and strategies to enhance immune reconstitution following transplantation and cancer therapy. Our work bridges fundamental immunology with clinically impactful discoveries aimed at improving outcomes for patients with hematologic malignancies and those undergoing HCT.
We foster a collaborative, rigorous, and highly supportive academic environment. The laboratory has a strong track record of mentoring research associates who have gone on to medical school, PhD programs, and other competitive academic and clinical careers.
This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute meaningfully to translational research that directly impacts patients undergoing transplantation and cellular therapy, while gaining strong mentorship and career development support.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences, Immunology, or a related field.
• 0–2 years of research or laboratory experience (experience in immunology, flow cytometry, or animal models is preferred but not required).
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and enthusiasm for working in a fast-paced translational research environment.
• A two-year commitment is strongly preferred to support project continuity and professional development.

Nice To Haves

• experience in immunology
• experience in flow cytometry
• experience in animal models

Responsibilities

• Perform a diverse array of experiments in cellular and molecular immunology, including work with primary human and murine tissues relevant to cancer and HCT.
• Utilize advanced laboratory techniques (e.g., flow cytometry, cell culture, immune phenotyping, molecular assays) following established protocols, while maintaining high standards of scientific rigor.
• Accurately record, analyze, and validate experimental data; generate figures and summaries to support ongoing projects and publications.
• Contribute to the optimization and modification of experimental protocols to improve reproducibility and efficiency.
• Draft and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) and assist in preparing reports, abstracts, and manuscripts.
• Maintain detailed laboratory records, compile and graph data, and participate in regular lab meetings and scientific discussions.
• Develop technical expertise in translational immunology, thymic biology, transplantation immunology, and cancer immunotherapy.
• Ensure that all laboratory activities adhere to institutional safety guidelines and regulatory standards.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees