Research Scientist/Engineer 3 - Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology

University of Washington•Seattle, WA

22h•Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology has an outstanding opportunity for a Research Scientist to join their Cancer Vaccine Institute (CVI) team. Reporting to the Research Scientist Senior at the Cancer Vaccine Institute (CVI), the Research Scientist 3 is responsible for promoting the research objectives of the UW CVI in the Division of Hematology & Oncology. This professional research position works directly with clinical and laboratory-based faculty members who specialize in translational immunotherapy research targeting a variety of cancers. The Research Scientist will play a key role in implementing clinical trials that test new cancer therapies by generating reliable and interpretable laboratory data from clinical research specimens to support evaluation of immune responses, treatment-related biomarkers, and mechanisms of response or resistance. Working under general guidance, the Research Scientist 3 will select and apply standardized procedures and techniques in the development, execution, validation, and troubleshooting of immunologic and translational biomarker assays used in cancer vaccine and immunotherapy clinical trials. The Research Scientist works on-site at the UW Medicine at South Lake Union campus.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in biology, immunology, molecular biology, or related field and four years of experience in a clinical research setting.
Significant hands-on experience in cellular immunology, immune monitoring, tissue culture, and clinical research sample handling.
Experience with PBMC processing, cryopreservation/thawing, flow cytometry, ELISpot, and related functional immune assays.
Familiarity with nucleic acid purification, NGS-related sample preparation, tissue-based assays, or spatial omics workflows, and basic data analysis.
Experience with assay troubleshooting, SOP-based work, documentation, and quality-focused laboratory practices.
Excellent organizational, record-keeping, written, and oral communication skills.
Demonstrate openness to receiving directions and feedback, asking for assistance when needed, and making constructive changes as a result.

Nice To Haves

Experience with assay qualification, validation, method bridging, reagent lot comparison, or equipment qualification.
Familiarity with FFPE/frozen tissue handling, spatial omics, multiplex imaging, mIHC, or other tissue-based biomarker platforms.
Experience using data analysis or visualization tools such as FlowJo, GraphPad Prism, R, Python, or vendor-specific analysis platforms.
Knowledge of cancer immunology, vaccine immunology, T-cell biology, tumor microenvironment biology, or biomarker discovery.
Experience coordinating with clinical teams, pathology services, external vendors, core laboratories, sequencing facilities, or multicenter clinical trial sites.

Responsibilities

Perform skilled immunologic assay execution and serve as an experienced scientific and technical resource in identifying issues and problem-solving approaches.
Ensure reagent and equipment qualification.
Prepare and maintain laboratory reagents, chemicals, instruments and supplies.
Order reagents and keep track of laboratory supplies, reagent lots, and inventory.
Process, isolate, cryopreserve, thaw, count, and assess PBMC and/or other immune cell populations from clinical research blood.
Perform cytokine ELISpot / FluoroSpot assays
Perform multiparameter flow cytometry and identify cytokine-producing T cells using intracellular staining.
Stimulate and culture primary cells in vitro for up to several months
Conduct ELISA/Luminex assays to measure cytokine production
Perform lymphoproliferative assays and cytolytic killing assays
Perform nucleic acid purification from blood, PBMCs, tissue, FFPE specimens, and other biospecimens.
Support NGS-related sample preparation, including nucleic acid QC, library preparation workflows, and sample preparation for sequencing or external vendor submission.
Support tissue-based and spatial omics sample preparation, including FFPE/frozen tissue handling, slide preparation, and specimen preparation for multiplex or spatial biomarker assays.
Contribute to the development, optimization, qualification, validation, and implementation of new or modified laboratory procedures and assays.
Integrate new ideas, procedures, and routines as necessary.
Support assay troubleshooting, development, reagent lot comparison, method bridging, equipment qualification, and assay performance review.
Utilize broad knowledge of principles, practices, and procedures to develop, write and revise SOPs, worksheets, forms, sample handling instructions, and technical documents.
Maintain accurate records of sample receipt, processing, assay setup, reagent lots, equipment use, QC results, deviations, and data analysis.
Collect, review, analyze, and interpret results.
Identify technical issues and recommend procedure modifications as needed.
Prepare data summaries, reports, tables, figures, and technical updates for laboratory leadership, collaborators, and study teams.
Interact with investigators, clinical teams, coordinators, external collaborators, vendors, and clinical trial sites regarding sample collection, processing, shipping, testing, and data deliverables.
Contribute to positive workplace relationships through professional, efficient, and timely interactions on current assignments and projects.
Serve as an experienced technical resource/mentor, monitor the work of others, and provide technical guidance, coaching, or training support to junior staff, trainees, fellows, or collaborators as appropriate.