Research Assistant - 135732

The Moores Cancer Center (MCC) is one of just 57 NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the United States and the only one in San Diego County. As a consortium cancer center, it is a collaborative partnership between the UCSD: encompassing 28 departments, 6 schools (School of Medicine, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Public Health, Jacobs School of Engineering, School of Biological Sciences & the School of Physical Sciences), UCSD Health oncology hospitals and clinics; the basic and public health research and outreach of San Diego State University (SDSU), and the basic and translational research of the La Jolla Institute of Immunology (LJI). These various programs and units are all dedicated to fulfilling the Moores Cancer Center's mission of reducing cancer's burden. As such, it ranks among the top centers in the nation conducting the continuum of cancer research, providing advanced patient care, and serving the community through outreach and education programs. As a top-ranking, future-oriented organization, we offer challenging career opportunities in a fast-paced and innovative environment. Moores Cancer Center follows a progressive philosophy of career-path development for its employees including opportunities for cross-training, professional development, and progressive responsibility.

MCC's mission is to transform cancer care in our catchment area and beyond by driving exceptional scientific discoveries and innovations in prevention, detection, care, and training. MCC will make a global impact on improving health by reducing cancer burden through accelerated discovery and translation, compassionate and interdisciplinary care, education and community engagement, with the foundation of our core values - Excellence, Innovation and Risk-Taking, Collaboration, Diversity and Service.

Under supervision, assist with performing routine research techniques and research and development studies to optimize the isolation, expansion and modification of patient-derived T cells and to develop methodologies under current good manufacturing conditions (cGMP) to re-administer the cells to the donor patients. Assist personnel with establishing scalable procedures to expand and transfect T-cells to form CAR-T cells and support the preclinical and clinical development of these drug candidates. Assist in performing biochemical, cell biological and molecular biology experiments on normal and malignant cells in vitro and in vivo, including cell transduction and transfection techniques that employ viral and nucleic acid vectors. Assist personnel with production and optimization of production of high titer lentiviral vectors. Other duties assigned as needed.

• Theoretical knowledge of cell biology, immunology, biotechnology, biochemistry, molecular biology, immunology, genetics including relevant techniques and/or stem cell biology.

• Knowledge of flow cytometry.

• Knowledge of various mice handling techniques.

• Experience with sterile technique and the ability to perform cell culture.

• Experience with cellular immunology and/or tumor biology.

• Ability to perform immunohistochemical analysis, particularly using anti-ROR1 antibody, 4A5.

• Ability to work with cellular transfection/transduction methods.

• Knowledge of pharmaceutical kinetic (PK) and pharmaceutical dynamic (PD) studies. Ability to perform PK/PD studies on anti-CLL pharmacological agents.

• Ability to work with in vivo or in vitro assays systems, e.g. ELISA, cytokine determination, proliferation and cytotoxicity assays.

• Knowledge and willingness to handle blood, plasma and other human specimens for processing and shipping. Able to work with human samples, animals, biohazardous materials and radioactivity.

• Experience working in and maintaining a laboratory environment.

• Organizational skills to order and maintain lab equipment and order supplies. Ability to maintain confidentiality.

• Ability to assist with general lab maintenance, including cleaning and restocking supplies and managing a regular schedule in the lab.

• Interpersonal and oral communication skills (both verbal and written) needed to interact professionally and effectively in the work environment, as well as effectively and accurately document research procedures. Ability to work with other scientists as a team. Ability to effectively and clearly communicate with tact, diplomacy, discretion, and flexibility to faculty, academicians, students, and staff including those of diverse ethnicity, culture, and foreign nationals. Ability to read, comprehend and discuss research materials. Ability to present information clearly and concisely.

• Experience with the operation of a personal computer, servers and software applications, such as MS Word and Excel. Knowledge to work with and learn new software for analysis.

• Ability to accurately keep records regarding cell lines, source, passage, and genetic manipulations. Ability to independently organize, analyze, and interpret data.

• Ability to follow UCSD Safety and Hazardous Materials guidelines. Ability and willingness to work with hazardous/biohazardous materials.

• Ability to follow UCSD Environmental Health and Safety requirements including the ability to write with correct syntax and grammar and to clearly communicate ideas and protocols in writing to EH&S.

• Knowledge of the cancer stem cell hypothesis and markers, particularly as it pertains to ovarian cancer, breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer.

• Experience to establish patient-derived xenograft (PDX) including subcutaneous injection model and orthotopic mice model.

• Experience working with CLL and solid tumors, including breast and ovarian cancer.

• Experience in mice orbital bleeding for various studies relating to anti-cancer drugs.

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check.

• Must be able to maintain confidentiality.

• Must be willing and able to work weekends and evenings when necessary.

• Must be able to handle blood samples and be trained for biohazards.