Research Technician II
About The Position
The successful candidate will join a research program in programmable immune engineering at UHN, based at the ATC-RI and affiliated with the University of Toronto. The lab focuses on designing engineered human immune cells that maintain stable and regulated function in complex clinical environments, with a particular emphasis on transplantation alongside applications in cancer and infection. The research program integrates CRISPR-based genome engineering, RNA-based modulation, and advanced human tissue and organoid models to define generalizable design principles for immune function under clinical stress conditions such as inflammation, immunosuppression, and chronic antigen exposure. A central goal is to establish programmable immune resilience as a design parameter for clinically deployable cell therapies. Experimental approaches include genetic engineering of human T cells, development of non-viral and mRNA-based delivery strategies, and functional validation in physiologically relevant human model systems, closely aligned with translational and biomanufacturing workflows at UHN. Example application areas include regulatory T cell engineering for enhanced stability under inflammatory and pharmacologic stress. The Research Technician II will play a central role in establishing and maintaining the wet lab infrastructure and supporting experimental workflows focused on human immune cell engineering and cell therapy research. The successful candidate will contribute to a growing translational research environment integrating genome engineering, RNA-based approaches, and advanced human model systems.
Requirements
- BSc in immunology, biology, biotechnology, molecular biology or a related life sciences discipline; MSc is an asset
- Relevant laboratory experience in cell culture, immunology, molecular biology or related areas
- Hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture; experience with human primary immune cells and/or cell therapy manufacturing is highly desirable
- Experience with flow cytometry and basic molecular biology techniques
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
- Excellent documentation and communication skills
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative team
- Interest in translational immunology, cell therapy and immune engineering
Nice To Haves
- MSc is an asset
Responsibilities
- Perform and support experiments involving human primary cell culture, including T cell isolation, activation, expansion and functional characterization
- Execute molecular and cellular assays, including flow cytometry, molecular biology techniques (e.g. PCR), gene delivery, genome editing and gene engineering approaches, and functional immune assays
- Support the establishment, optimization and implementation of experimental workflows and protocols
- Maintain laboratory organization, including reagent preparation, inventory management, equipment coordination and ordering
- Contribute to assay development, troubleshooting and quality control activities
- Assist in training students and new laboratory members
- Ensure compliance with laboratory safety, biosafety and regulatory standards
Benefits
- Competitive offer packages
- Government organization and a member of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP)
- Close access to Transit and UHN shuttle service
- A flexible work environment
- Opportunities for development and promotions within a large organization
- Additional perks (multiple corporate discounts including: travel, restaurants, parking, phone plans, auto insurance discounts, on-site gyms, etc.)
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
