Research Associate

University of Colorado•Aurora, CO

6d•$75,000 - $80,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Soragni Laboratory seeks a Project Scientist with expertise in patient-derived tumor organoids, high throughput assay development, and clinical sample handling. The Project Scientist will work independently and in close collaboration with the Principal Investigator, research team, and external partners to support and expand the laboratory’s organoid pipeline. This includes responsibility for sample flow from procurement to processing, assay execution, screening operations, and data transfer. The position will support projects focused on NF1-associated tumors and neurofibromas, while also maintaining a wider research scope across sarcoma and other rare malignancies. The Project Scientist will train junior scientists, support assay deployment, assist in manuscript preparation, and contribute to grant development. Comfort with clinical tissue processing and familiarity with automated or semi-automated platforms is preferred. The role requires independent decision making, strong organizational skills, and the capacity to operate in a fast moving, multidisciplinary environment.

Requirements

PhD in Bioengineering, Biochemistry, Biology, or a related field.
Five (5) years of research experience with clinical samples, organoids, or primary patient material.
Strong verbal and written communication skills and attention to detail.

Nice To Haves

Experience with high throughput screening assays preferred.
Proven ability to work independently and manage multiple concurrent priorities.

Responsibilities

Coordinate and execute clinical tissue processing, biospecimen intake, and organoid establishment with an emphasis on NF1-associated tumors as well as sarcoma and other rare cancers.
Seed and expand tumor organoids, including bioprinting or 3D culture workflows when appropriate.
Plan, schedule, and operate drug screening runs; coordinate imaging and data transfer.
Support the development of new NF1-focused assays to characterize differentiation state, drug response, and resistance phenotypes.
Design, optimize, and validate cell-based assays to support compound testing and mechanistic studies.
Identify, deploy, and refine high throughput screening models to meet program needs.
Work with automation engineers and software teams to integrate workflows into standardized, reproducible systems.
Train undergraduate and graduate students in tissue handling, organoid workflows, and automation.
Contribute to manuscripts, figures, presentations, and grant proposals.
Present data, interpret results, and draw independent conclusions for internal and external meetings.
Interact with collaborators, scientific partners, and cross-functional teams to advance project milestones.
Maintain awareness of new methods, technologies, and literature; integrate updates to improve efficiency, rigor, and data quality.
Troubleshoot workflow and technical challenges, propose solutions, and implement refinements.
Contribute to an environment of scientific rigor, reproducibility, and transparency.