Research Technologist 3 (Fixed Duration Appt): Bekris Lab

University of Washington • Seattle, WA

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The UW Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology (DLMP) in Seattle, WA has a fantastic opportunity for a Research Technologist 3 with the Bekis Lab. The Bekis lab is focused on adult neurodegenerative disease biomarker discovery and uses clinical and experimental approaches to demonstrate the feasibility of circulating factors in human biofluids, such as genetic, epigenetic, or proteins, as potential biomarkers of disease risk, progression or therapeutic outcomes. Dr. Bekris is the new leader of the University of Washington Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (UW ADRC). The Research Technologist 3 will support research projects to discover biomarkers of early-stage adult neurodegenerative disease. This position will be involved in helping tease apart which biomarkers are specific to clinical diagnosis, particularly early-stage diagnoses. This will be accomplished by processing human blood samples and testing for protein biomarkers in plasma or other biofluids from the UW ADRC, the Dementia with Lewy Bodies Consortium (DLBC) and other studies. This position will support the startup of this new lab by working with research coordinators and other clinical team members to establish and maintain standard operating procedures, track sample collection and storage, enhance capabilities for project planning, maintain lab equipment and perform biomarker assays.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in an appropriate field of technology or science and two years’ experience as a Research Technologist, or equivalent; OR an advanced Degree in an appropriate scientific field.
• Professional-level experience may be substituted, year-for-year, for the formal academic degree.
• Training or experience within a specific discipline will be required to meet the unique requirements of individual positions.
• Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration.

Responsibilities

• Manage bio sample intake and biospecimen cataloging.
• Develop, adapt, and maintain workflows for blood sample processing.
• Perform plasma, serum, buffy coat isolation.
• Catalog blood component and other biofluid storage.
• Operate laboratory instrumentation, perform routine maintenance, and coordinate vendor-supported repairs.
• Perform biomarker analyses and corresponding data tracking.
• Integrate QC procedures at key stages of the workflow and troubleshoot technical issues to ensure consistent, high-quality results.
• Perform general laboratory supply and equipment ordering and maintenance.
• Communicate status updates, performance metrics, and results to project leadership and collaborators.
• Maintain organized, compliant lab records for numerous clinical and research projects.
• Serve as a technical contact for ongoing studies to align workflows with projects goals and timelines.
• Identify and define research problems.
• Design approaches or hypotheses to be tested and the methodology to be used.
• Design specific phases of research projects.
• Collaborate with groups of technical staff to ensure automated workflows integrate seamlessly into production.
• Maintain lab safety protocols including training new lab members on lab safety.
• Train and mentor laboratory staff in protocols, troubleshooting, and best practices.
• Participate in cross-functional meetings, contribute feedback, and support continuous process initiatives.
• Develop conclusions and hypotheses.
• Present research results in publishable form.
• Develop and obtain research grants.

Benefits

• Vacation time and sick time off that accrue monthly, including 12 paid holidays.
• State Employee Tuition Exemption Program covering up to 6 credits of qualifying coursework per quarter at the University of Washington or other participating colleges or universities.
• Fully subsidized public transit pass (U-PASS) that covers multiple forms of public transportation in the region.
• Excellent healthcare, dental, disability, retirement, and other plan options.
• Lots of free fantastic fitness, healthy eating, finance, and stress reduction classes offered through the Whole U.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level