Research Lab Technologist Senior

Mass General Brigham•Boston, MA

7d•Onsite

About The Position

Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Clinical Microbiology Laboratory is seeking a Research Technologist to support the development, optimization, and execution of high complexity molecular assays in support of clinical diagnostic development and deployment, translational research, and public health pathogen genomic surveillance. The position will contribute to a collaborative program with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MADPH) and will work closely with research groups in the Division of Infectious Diseases at MGH. Core activities include developing and deploying cutting edge and novel approaches for: nucleic acid isolation from human clinical specimens; digital PCR and quantitative PCR assay development; next generation sequencing (NGS) library preparation and sequencing; target enrichment (hybrid capture) with NGS; and automation of the above technologies. The Research Technologist will work independently with appropriate supervision from Dr. Turbett and investigators in the Division of Infectious Diseases, with an emphasis on rigorous documentation, contamination control, quality control (QC), and troubleshooting. All testing performed in this role is for research and/or surveillance purposes (non-clinical reporting); clinical technician certification is not required.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree in a biological, biomedical, biotechnology, or other relevant scientific field is required.
A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience is required (or a minimum of 2 years for candidates with a master’s degree).
Demonstrated proficiency with high-complexity molecular laboratory techniques (nucleic acid extraction, RT-qPCR/qPCR, digital PCR, and NGS library preparation with target enrichment) and a strong track record of troubleshooting and optimization.
Direct experience with target enrichment workflows (hybrid capture/target capture) and best practices for RNA and DNA handling, contamination prevention, and appropriate experimental design.
Ability to generate, review, and interpret QC metrics, maintain organized records, and follow SOPs and biosafety requirements in a clinical and research laboratory setting.
Ability to work independently on multiple concurrent assay development efforts or projects while meeting timelines.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail are required.
Strong communication skills, including the ability to document methods clearly, summarize results, and communicate technical issues to interdisciplinary teams.
Comfort with basic data analysis and visualization using common tools (e.g., Excel, GraphPad Prism) and familiarity with cloud based sequencing data analysis environments (e.g., Terra) is required.

Nice To Haves

A master’s degree in a relevant field is preferred.
Nucleic acid isolation from human clinical specimens, including implementation of appropriate extraction controls and contamination prevention practices.
High complexity molecular assay development, including qPCR and dPCR methods.
NGS library preparation and sequencing workflows, including library QC and troubleshooting.
Target enrichment workflows.
Novel assay development and validation.
Experience working in or adjacent to a clinical microbiology, molecular diagnostics, or similarly regulated laboratory environment with strong documentation expectations.

Responsibilities

Perform and optimize nucleic acid extraction workflows (manual and/or automated) for a variety of human clinical specimen types; implement extraction controls and contamination prevention practices.
Develop, optimize, and troubleshoot high-complexity molecular assays including RT-qPCR, qPCR, and digital PCR.
Prepare and interpret run level QC metrics and troubleshoot pre-analytical and analytical issues.
Prepare NGS libraries (e.g., metagenomic or amplicon approaches) and perform target enrichment (hybrid capture) workflows.
Quantify and QC libraries, sequence using Illumina and Oxford Nanopore approached, and perform first level analysis, QC, and interpretation of sequencing results.
Operate, monitor, and perform routine maintenance for sequencing instruments and supporting laboratory equipment.
Document instrument performance and coordinate service as needed.
Plan and execute assay development and validation studies and summarize results in organized validation reports.
Maintain accurate documentation (lab notebook, SOPs, batch records, QC logs, incident reporting, and sample chain of custody) and follow institutional biosafety and data security requirements.
Support specimen biorepository operations including specimen receipt, processing/aliquoting, labeling, storage, inventory management, and sample and data tracking in laboratory information management systems.
Coordinate daily laboratory operations including reagent preparation, inventory management, ordering, and tracking of supplies.
Perform primary data review and interpretation for molecular and sequencing outputs; collaborate with bioinformatics partners and utilize platforms such as Terra and standard analytical tools for QC summaries and reporting.
Communicate effectively with supervisors and collaborators regarding assay status, issues, and timelines.
Contribute to method write ups, protocols, abstracts/manuscripts, federal assay approval submissions, and internal training as needed.