Research Associate III - The Xavier Lab

The Broad Institute•Cambridge, MA

22h•$65,000 - $91,667•Onsite

About The Position

The Xavier Lab, within the Broad Institute of MIT & Harvard, combines cutting-edge technologies with molecular biology, immunology, genomics, and systems biology. Our research focuses on translating human genetics to functional biology; generating systems-wide maps within the gut that capture immune features and metabolic states at single-cell resolution; determining the influences of the gut microbiome on health and disease using human cohorts and computational models; and, identifying and placing new cellular receptors within pathway biology and leverage chemical biology to test therapeutic hypotheses and inform drug discovery program. We are seeking a highly motivated, career-oriented Research Associate III to support this effort by performing cutting-edge molecular genomics experiments on rare and precious human specimens. The candidate should be able to conduct complex bench experiments with minimal supervision, working in a multidisciplinary environment alongside scientists and computational biologists. This position offers significant opportunities for growth in genomics technology, with the chance to present data at team meetings and contribute to the refinement of experimental protocols. We are seeking a highly motivated individual to join our team of talented researchers in a highly collaborative research environment. Come join a team of researchers excited to learn and make an impact on human health!

Requirements

BS degree in biology, or a related field.
5+ years of relevant lab experience (or Master’s degree and three years’ experience); prior experience working in genomics is preferred, and particularly experience generating single-cell or spatial transcriptomics data is ideal, but not required.
Exceptional initiative, strong motivation, and a meticulous, systematic approach to detail are essential for this role.
Excellent proficiency in communication, organization, and time management.
Proven ability to work effectively both independently and as a collaborative team member.
Creative problem-solving skills, coupled with the judgment to seek assistance when necessary.
A strong eagerness to acquire new knowledge and a deep commitment to impacting patient lives by advancing the understanding of psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases.

Responsibilities

Perform wet lab experiments with minimal supervision and refine standard operating procedures to ensure quality control for downstream assays.
Communicate with all levels of staff and external collaborators to ensure that work supports team goals
Work closely with lab members to design, implement and troubleshoot experiments critical to the team’s collective success.
Attend team meetings to share results, plan projects and experiments and ensure that projects support current team goals in a dynamic environment.
Perform complex spatial genomics assays to integrate molecular tracing with high-resolution gene expression data.
Maintain rigorous documentation of experimental parameters and sample metadata within the E-Lab electronic notebook to ensure the reproducibility of large-scale spatial and molecular datasets and facilitate seamless integration for computational analysis.
Mentor junior staff, oversee assay development, manage specialize reagents, and ensuring strict adherence to bench research protocols.