Overview

The Clurman Lab in the Clinical Research Division is looking for a highly-motivated individual to support the Lab Manager and Staff Scientists within the lab.  The lab currently consists of three Staff Scientists, one Post-Doc, one Graduate Student, and one Research Tech / Lab Manager.  The position is for a Lab Technician whose primary responsibility will be the maintenance of an experimental mouse colony, as well as performing additional bench top techniques. 

The Clurman lab studies protein degradation, cell division, and carcinogenesis. This research has led to fundamental discoveries about how cell division and protein ubiquitylation are regulated in normal cells, and their associations with cancer. Our approach has been to employ whatever methods are needed to make mechanistic and physiologic advances, including biochemistry, cell biology, proteomics, and gene targeting in human cells and mice. We have had a particularly sustained impact in studies on the Fbw7 ubiquitin ligase, which sits at the crossroads of our expertise in cell division, the mediation of protein degradation by the ubiquitin system, and tumorigenesis. We are moving our basic and mechanistic work towards therapeutic goals whenever possible. Learn more about the Clurman Lab at https://research.fhcrc.org/clurman/en.html.

Cures Start Here. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Fred Hutch), home of three Nobel laureates, is an independent, nonprofit research institution dedicated to the development and advancement of biomedical research to eliminate cancer and other potentially fatal diseases. Recognized internationally for its pioneering work in bone-marrow transplantation, Fred Hutch’s five scientific divisions collaborate to form a unique environment for conducting basic and applied science. The Fred Hutch, in collaboration with its clinical and research partners, the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s, is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in the Pacific Northwest. Careers Start Here.

Responsibilities

The newly-hired technician will work under the direction of the Principal Investigator and higher-level laboratory personnel. He/She will be involved in the following techniques/duties:

• Murine husbandry (observing mice, performing toe clips/ear punches, setting up mating, weaning, etc.)
• Genotyping via PCR,
• Eye bleeds, intraperitoneal injections, gastrointestinal evaluation, and bone marrow transplation  
• Assist in performing necropsies.
• Tissue culture of mammalian cell lines  
• Flow cytometry-based analysis of mammalian cells
• Transient transfection and use of viral expression systems
• Purification, cloning, and manipulation of genomic DNA, cDNA, and RNA
• Immunoprecipitation and western blotting
• Immunofluorescent staining and microscopy
• General laboratory duties, such as making solutions and reagents

To be successful in this position, the applicant must be organized, able to work independently, show initiative and be willing to take up new laboratory skills, and communicate well with other members of the research team. Strong skills in data collection and laboratory record keeping are mandatory. Computer skills and experience with statistical analysis and data presentation are desirable. Experience in tissue processing (fixation, embedding, etc.) would be helpful. 

Qualifications

A Bachelor’s degree in the field of biology (e.g. molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, pathology, or genome sciences) with 0-2+ years of laboratory experience. Must have scientific knowledge in the area of study and basic laboratory skills. Research experience beyond lab classes is usually necessary. Previous experience with animal research is highly preferred. The applicant will be responsible for maintaining written and database records of the mice, so excellent organizational skills are essential.