Research Assistant 2 - Senior Research Assistant

Department Overview

Overview: The Cancer Early Detection Advanced Research (CEDAR) center is a collaborative institution within the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute. The Knight Cancer Institute, known as one of the pioneers in personalized cancer medicine, is an international leader in research and cancer treatment. At CEDAR our mission is to detect and stop lethal cancers at the earliest stage because early detection saves lives. This is an ambitious goal, one that requires novelty, creativity, and innovation. We are comprised of biologists, chemists, biomedical engineers, computationalists, and clinicians conducting groundbreaking translational cancer research to help people maintain a high quality of life and reduce cancer mortality, to create a global early detection community, and to have a positive impact on the Oregon economy.

Our Commitment to Diversity: CEDAR is committed to increasing the diversity of the campus community. We are dedicated to promoting inclusion and multiculturalism by having outstanding researchers of diverse backgrounds work together on multiple projects. We encourage high-risk, high-reward research projects because defeating cancer requires out-of-the-box thinking and new perspectives. Our research is milestone driven to ensure that each project is fulfilling its stated goals.

Every Knight Cancer employee is expected to embody our guiding principles: 

• We act BOLDLY—Breakthroughs require pushing the boundaries of science, exploring new frontiers, and thinking differently
• We SUPPORT each other—Respect leads to trust, which leads to excellence
• We work as a CONNECTED team—We must leverage our collective brain power to conquer cancer because no one individual can do it alone

Function/Duties of Position

We are developing an exciting new type of cancer diagnostic test that combines microfluidic and microarray technology to pull cancer-derived nanoparticles straight from plasma. Our long-term goal is to bring nanoparticle-based diagnostics to the clinic for the first time. We are currently hiring for a highly motivated and enthusiastic Research Assistant 2 or Senior Research Assistant.

We are looking for applicants with expertise in Engineering or Biology to work in some of the following general areas:

• Development of biological particle separation techniques using dielectrophoresis technology – Using microelectrode array chips to recover cancer-derived nanoparticles from circulation (Gustafson, et al. 2021). This novel work will focus on the development and characterization of new nanoparticle recovery techniques using dielectrophoretic forces. These forces are created by microelectrode array devices that act on the unique dielectric properties of different particles (Ibsen et al. 2017). This work includes increasing particle collection efficiency, understanding the types of particles that are collected and how they can be separated, and developing an internal standard appropriate for different particle types. This position will utilize the high-end specialized dielectrophoresis equipment located here at OHSU. This will also involve quantitative fluorescent microscopy imaging, TEM imaging, immunostaining, and particle characterization.
• System automation – continuing development and finalization of an automated system to conduct the dielectrophoresis work. The goal is to automate the dielectrophoresis collection protocol to increase sample analysis throughput. This will involve basic robotics and automation programming in LabView.
• Cancer biomarker panel development – Evaluate the nanoparticle associated biomarkers that are collected for their ability to detect pancreatic cancer from plasma samples. Here the goal is to use the developed dielectrophoresis techniques to collect cancer-derived nanoparticles and evaluate their biomarkers for the ability to detect pancreatic cancer.

References:

Luna, Ramona; Heineck, Daniel; Hinestrosa, Juan Pablo; Dobrovolskaia, Irina; Hamilton, Sean; Malakian, Anna; Gustafson, Kyle T.; Huynh, Katherine T.; Kim, Sejung; Ware, Jason; Stimson, Ella; Ross, Christian; Schutt, Carolyn E.; Ibsen, Stuart. “Enhancement of Dielectrophoresis-Based Particle Collection from High Conducting Fluids Due to Partial Electrode Insulation.” Electrophoresis, In Press (2023)

Hamilton, Sean; Shea, Delaney; Ibsen, Stuart*, Brasino, Michael*. "On‐chip dielectrophoretic recovery and detection of a lactate sensing probiotic from model human saliva." Electrophoresis, Volume 44, Issue 3-4: pp. 442-449. (2023) *Co-corresponding authors

Luna, Ramona; Heineck, Daniel P.; Bucher, Elmar; Heiser, Laura; Ibsen, Stuart. "Theoretical and Experimental Analysis of Negative Dielectrophoresis Induced Particle Trajectories." Electrophoresis, Volume 43, Issue 12: pp. 1366-77 (2022) (Cover)

Gustafson, Kyle; Huynh, Katherine; Heineck, Daniel; Bueno, Jesus; Modestino, Augusta; Kim, Sejung; Gower, Austin; Armstrong, Randall; Schutt, Carolyn; Ibsen, Stuart. “Automated Fluorescence Quantification of Extracellular Vesicles Collected from Blood Plasma using Dielectrophoresis.” Lab on a Chip, Volume 21, Issue 7: pp. 1318-1332. (2021) (Back Cover)

Sarno, Benjamin; Heineck, Daniel; Heller Michael J.; Ibsen, Stuart. “Dielectrophoresis: Developments and Applications from 2010 to 2020.” Electrophoresis, Volume 42, Number 5, pp. 539-564 (2021). (Cover)

Ibsen, Stuart; Wright, Jennifer; Lewis, Jean; Kim, Sejung; Ko, Seo-Yeon; Ong, Jiye; Manouchehri, Sareh; Vyas, Ankit; Akers, Johnny; Chen, Clark; Carter, Bob; Esener, Sadik; Heller, Michael."Rapid isolation and detection of exosomes and associated biomarkers from plasma." ACS Nano, Volume 11, Issue 7, pp. 6641-6651 (2017).

Required Qualifications

Education & experience:

• SRA: Bachelor’s degree in relevant field AND 1 years of relevant experience OR equivalent combination of training and experience
• RA2: Bachelor’s degree in relevant field OR Associate’s AND 3 years of relevant experience OR 4 years of relevant experience OR equivalent combination of training and experience

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Candidates must have experience working in a laboratory environment
• Ability to operate complex scientific equipment and develop and troubleshoot complex experimental protocols
• Exhibit a high level of consistency in running analytical assays and protocols
• Excellent communication, analytical and organizational skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team while being collaborative in resolving problems
• Knowledge of policy and regulations applicable to the laboratory, including but not limited to safety
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with a high performing work group
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks at one time
• Demonstrated ability to learn new and innovative processes quickly
• Must possess energy and drive to coordinate multiple projects simultaneously
• Ability to use tact and diplomacy to maintain effective working relationships
• Ability to analyze short and long term project needs

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Biotechnology development
• Specialty: Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Biotechnology development (including Cell Biology or related field)
• Experience developing new scientific techniques and or technology
• Experience with technology development
• Experience with immunostaining techniques
• Oncology experience

Additional Details

Apply online. Please be sure to upload a Cover Letter and Resume/CV.

We offer a variety of benefits on top of joining a thriving organization:

• Medical, dental and vision coverage at no or low cost to employees
  • Covered 100% for full-time employees and 88% for dependents
• Several retirement plans to choose from with contributions from OHSU
• 25 days a year of paid time off
• 8 days of sick time off
• Commuter subsidies
• Tuition reimbursement
• Access to group life insurance, disability insurance and other supplemental benefits
• Annual Merit Increase
• Growth/Development Opportunities
• Employee discounts to local and major businesses  

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All are welcome

Oregon Health & Science University values a diverse and culturally competent workforce. We are proud of our commitment to being an equal opportunity, affirmative action organization that does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of any protected class status, including disability status and protected veteran status. Individuals with diverse backgrounds and those who promote diversity and a culture of inclusion are encouraged to apply. To request reasonable accommodation contact the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department at 503-494-5148 or aaeo@ohsu.edu.