Staff Research Associate III

The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center is seeking a Staff Research Associate III to advance translational cancer research. You will independently perform molecular biology, proteomic, NGS, and cell culture assays on human tissues and blood, while guiding junior technicians and collaborating with investigators and biostatisticians.

Responsibilities include developing new assay approaches, optimizing workflows, maintaining records, and presenting data for

Qualifications

• More than four (4) years of hands-on research laboratory experience.
• Extensive experience with human cancer translational assays and the handling and processing of human tissues and blood.
• Demonstrated proficiency in molecular biology techniques and proteomic assays and/or NGS assay setup.
• Hands-on experience with cell culture and PCR-based assays.
• Ability to independently develop, optimize, validate, and troubleshoot laboratory protocols and assays.
• Ability to learn new laboratory instruments, technologies, and assay workflows efficiently.
• Strong quantitative, analytical, organizational, and documentation skills, including the ability to analyze and clearly present research data.
• Demonstrated ability to train and lead junior laboratory staff while managing multiple priorities and meeting deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Perform and optimize molecular biology, proteomic, NGS assay setup, cell culture, and PCR-based assays in support of translational cancer research.
• Process human tissues and blood specimens in accordance with approved protocols, biosafety requirements, and quality standards.
• Set up, operate, and maintain laboratory instruments; learn and implement new instrument-based assays and technologies.
• Develop, adapt, document, and validate new assay approaches as required by research objectives.
• Identify, investigate, and resolve protocol, assay-performance, specimen-quality, and equipment problems.
• Maintain accurate laboratory records, reagent inventories, sample tracking, standard operating procedures, and quality-control documentation.
• Analyze, interpret, summarize, and present experimental data to investigators and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Collaborate with bioinformaticians and biostatisticians on data quality, analysis plans, interpretation, and integration of laboratory and computational results.
• Provide technical leadership, training, and day-to-day guidance to junior research technicians.
• Prepare figures, tables, methods, data summaries, and supporting materials for presentations, reports, grant applications, abstracts, and manuscripts.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of research program and institutional needs.

Skills

Molecular biology

Cell culture

PCR techniques

NGS assays

Proteomics assays

Data analysis

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's or master's degree in Biology

Job description

ABOUT US

The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (TLI) is Los Angeles County's preeminent independent, not-for-profit biomedical research hub, excelling in transforming scientific breakthroughs into practical therapies. With a $90 million annual budget, TLI is home to over 150 investigators and 500 staff, advancing 600 projects in areas such as Infection and Immunity, Cancer, and Women's Health. Founded in 1952, the Institute continues to train physician-scientists and manage healthcare programs for 60,000 underserved families throughout South Los Angeles.

SUMMARY

The Staff Research Associate III supports human cancer translational research by independently performing, optimizing, and troubleshooting molecular biology, proteomic, next-generation sequencing (NGS), cell culture, and PCR-based assays. This position works with human tissues and blood, develops new assay approaches, analyzes and presents research data, learns and implements new instrument-based methods, provides day-to-day guidance to junior technicians, and collaborates with investigators, bioinformaticians, and biostatisticians to advance research objectives and scientific publications.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Perform and optimize molecular biology, proteomic, NGS assay setup, cell culture, and PCR-based assays in support of translational cancer research.
• Process human tissues and blood specimens in accordance with approved protocols, biosafety requirements, and quality standards.
• Set up, operate, and maintain laboratory instruments; learn and implement new instrument-based assays and technologies.
• Develop, adapt, document, and validate new assay approaches as required by research objectives.
• Identify, investigate, and resolve protocol, assay-performance, specimen-quality, and equipment problems.
• Maintain accurate laboratory records, reagent inventories, sample tracking, standard operating procedures, and quality-control documentation.
• Analyze, interpret, summarize, and present experimental data to investigators and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Collaborate with bioinformaticians and biostatisticians on data quality, analysis plans, interpretation, and integration of laboratory and computational results.
• Provide technical leadership, training, and day-to-day guidance to junior research technicians.
• Prepare figures, tables, methods, data summaries, and supporting materials for presentations, reports, grant applications, abstracts, and manuscripts.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of research program and institutional needs.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor's or master's degree (B.S./B.Sc. or M.S./M.Sc.) in Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Cancer Biology, Biotechnology, or a related scientific discipline.

QUALIFICATIONS

• More than four (4) years of hands-on research laboratory experience.
• Extensive experience with human cancer translational assays and the handling and processing of human tissues and blood.
• Demonstrated proficiency in molecular biology techniques and proteomic assays and/or NGS assay setup.
• Hands-on experience with cell culture and PCR-based assays.
• Ability to independently develop, optimize, validate, and troubleshoot laboratory protocols and assays.
• Ability to learn new laboratory instruments, technologies, and assay workflows efficiently.
• Strong quantitative, analytical, organizational, and documentation skills, including the ability to analyze and clearly present research data.
• Demonstrated ability to train and lead junior laboratory staff while managing multiple priorities and meeting deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work effectively with investigators, laboratory staff, bioinformaticians, and biostatisticians.
• Strong scientific writing skills and ability to contribute to manuscripts, reports, abstracts, and presentations.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with multiple assay platforms spanning molecular biology, proteomics, NGS, cell culture, and PCR.
• Experience establishing or improving laboratory workflows, standard operating procedures, and quality-control practices.
• Experience contributing experimental methods, figures, or results to peer-reviewed manuscripts and scientific presentation

Background and Health Clearance Required

Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action/Drug-Free Workplace