Research Associate II - The Macosko Lab

Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

A leading research institute in Cambridge is seeking a motivated Research Associate II to apply spatial transcriptomics technologies in neurodegenerative research. The role involves performing genomic experiments, maintaining documentation, and supporting lab operations. Ideal candidates have a BS degree in biology or neuroscience and 3+ years of lab experience. This position offers opportunities for growth within a collaborative environment, competitive benefits, and no visa sponsorship available.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of relevant lab experience or Master’s degree with 2 years’ experience.
• Prior experience in genomics preferred.
• Exceptional initiative and systematic attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Execute and refine standard protocols for human postmortem samples.
• Perform spatial genomics assays for gene expression data.
• Maintain rigorous documentation in the E-Lab notebook.

Skills

Molecular genomics experiments

Communication skills

Organization skills

Time management

Creative problem-solving

Education

BS degree in cell or molecular biology, neuroscience, or related field

Job description

Description & Requirements

The Macosko Lab, within the Broad Institute of MIT & Harvard, is looking for an outstanding Research Associate II to join our team. The mission of this role is to apply transformative spatial transcriptomics technologies—specifically Slide-tags and Synapse-seq—to uncover how cell types are organized and altered in the context of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases.

We are seeking a highly motivated, career-oriented Research Associate to support this effort by performing cutting‑edge molecular genomics experiments on rare and precious human brain surgical specimens. The candidate should be able to conduct complex bench experiments with minimal supervision, working in a multidisciplinary environment alongside neuroscientists and computational biologists. This position offers significant opportunities for growth in genomics technology and neuroscience, with the chance to present data at team meetings and contribute to the refinement of experimental protocols. Being a member of our team will provide the opportunity for your contributions to be utilized and recognized across a large and vibrant community of researchers in the fields of genomics and brain disease research. You will be embedded in a highly multidisciplinary environment, working alongside neuroscientists, molecular biologists, and computational scientists to generate data that gives an unprecedented look at the human brain.

Primary Responsibilities

• Execute and refine standard operating procedures for the anatomical verification and quality control of human postmortem samples to ensure integrity for downstream genomics assays.
• Execute the production and preparation of barcoding libraries, performing routine optimizations to maintain library complexity and protocol efficiency.
• Perform complex spatial genomics assays to integrate molecular tracing with high‑resolution gene expression data.
• Maintain rigorous documentation of experimental parameters and sample metadata within the E‑Lab electronic notebook to ensure the reproducibility of large‑scale spatial and molecular datasets and facilitate seamless integration for computational analysis.
• Coordinate lab operations by mentoring junior staff, managing specialized reagents, and ensuring strict adherence to bench research protocols.
• Support various projects across the lab and in major research consortia (such as the BRAIN Initiative) by preparing technical data summaries, figures, and methodology reports for collaborative working groups.

Minimum Qualifications

• BS degree in cell or molecular biology, neuroscience, or a related field.
• 3+ years of relevant lab experience (or Master’s degree and two years’ experience); prior experience working in genomics is preferred, and particularly experience generating single‑cell or spatial transcriptomics data is ideal, but not required.
• Exceptional initiative, strong motivation, and a meticulous, systematic approach to detail are essential for this role.
• Excellent proficiency in communication, organization, and time management.
• Proven ability to work effectively both independently and as a collaborative team member.
• Creative problem‑solving skills, coupled with the judgment to seek assistance when necessary.
• A strong eagerness to acquire new knowledge and a deep commitment to impacting patient lives by advancing the understanding of psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases.

It is important to note that the Broad Institute will not offer visa sponsorship for this opportunity.

The expected base pay range for this position as listed above is based on a 40 hour per week schedule. Broad provides pay ranges representing its reasonable and good faith estimate of what the organization reasonably expects to pay for a position at the time of posting. Actual compensation will vary based on factors including but not limited to, relevant skills, experience, education, qualifications, and other factors permissible by law.

At Broad, your base pay is just one part of a comprehensive total rewards package. From day one, this role offers a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance; a 401(k) retirement plan; flexible spending and health savings accounts; at least 13 paid holidays; winter closure; paid time off; parental and family care leave; and an employee assistance program, among other Broad benefits.

The Broad Institute is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.

Should you need a reasonable accommodation to complete the application or interview process, please contact [e-mail] for assistance.