Research Scientist II

Seattle Children's•Seattle, WA

2d•$33 - $49

About The Position

The Oda Laboratory at Seattle Children’s Research Institute focuses on engineering innovative immunotherapies to overcome treatment resistance in cancers such as AML and RMS. Located within the Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research, the lab designs synthetic receptors, enhances adoptive T-cell therapies including CAR and TCR T cells, and investigates how immune cells can be reprogrammed to function in immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments. The Research Scientist II will join a collaborative, translational team advancing cell therapies from laboratory research toward clinical impact. The position independently evaluates, selects, and applies scientific procedures; contributes to the planning, design, execution, and interpretation of in vitro and in vivo experiments; analyzes complex datasets; maintains rigorous electronic laboratory records; and troubleshoots protocols. The researcher also supports preparation of manuscripts, technical reports, grant proposals, and presentations, and presents findings at lab meetings and external conferences. Additional duties include maintaining shared laboratory operations, upholding safety standards, and training and guiding junior personnel, trainees, and students.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in an engineering or scientific discipline; a master’s degree may be required for certain laboratory specialties.
At least two years of experience in a related area or laboratory setting.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in an applicable field or research specialty is highly preferred.
Significant research experience in the area of specialization.
Some experience with laboratory management.
Extensive hands-on experience with sterile mammalian cell culture and isolation, activation, expansion, and cryopreservation of primary human or murine immune cells, including PBMCs and T cells.
Proficiency in designing and analyzing multicolor flow cytometry panels with 8 or more colors using FlowJo.
Experience with viral transduction using lentivirus or retrovirus, or non-viral gene delivery such as CRISPR or electroporation, and in vitro functional assays such as cytotoxicity, cytokine profiling by ELISA or Luminex, and proliferation assays.
Experience with PCR, vector cloning, plasmid preparation, and gel electrophoresis.
Experience handling immunocompromised or syngeneic mouse models, adoptive cell transfer, tumor inoculations, and bioluminescent imaging (IVIS).
Familiarity with single-cell RNA sequencing preparation protocols or high-dimensional spectral profiling.
Working knowledge of Prism, FlowJo, and electronic laboratory notebooks.

Responsibilities

Evaluate, select, and apply standardized and advanced scientific procedures independently.
Contribute to planning, design, execution, and interpretation of in vitro and in vivo experiments.
Make detailed observations, analyze complex datasets, maintain electronic laboratory records, and troubleshoot experimental protocols.
Assist with preparing research manuscripts, technical reports, grant proposals, and scientific presentations.
Present research findings and progress at internal laboratory meetings and external technical conferences.
Maintain shared laboratory operations and uphold high safety standards.
Participate in training and guiding junior laboratory personnel, trainees, and students.