Research Technologist

Position Title

Research Technologist 1

Western Washington University, with over 15,000 students in seven colleges and the graduate school, is nationally recognized for its educational programs, students and faculty. Western Washington University is committed to achieving excellence through advancing inclusive success, increasing our Washington impact, and focusing on transformational education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences and based on innovative scholarship, research, and creative activity.

The campus is located in Bellingham, Washington, a coastal community of 90,000 overlooking Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades Mountain range. The city lies 90 miles north of Seattle and 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia. Western has additional sites in Anacortes, Bremerton, Everett, Port Angeles, and Poulsbo. Western is recognized nationally for its successes, such as being named one of the top public master's-granting institutions in the Pacific Northwest for 25 years in a row by U.S. News & World Report.

The Biology Department supports Western's mission, which states that together with our students, staff, and faculty, we are committed to making a positive impact in the state and the world with a shared focus on academic excellence and inclusive achievement. We encourage applications from women, people of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and other candidates from underrepresented backgrounds and with diverse experiences interested in this opportunity.

In the Lee Lab, the research technologist will use a wide range of established protocols to conduct experiments aimed at understanding the mechanisms and biological impacts of an RNA interference pathway in the single-celled model eukaryote Tetrahymena thermophila. Current projects are focused on identifying the requirements and molecular processes by which the RNA interference pathway protects the genome from DNA damage.

These projects will require the use of sterile technique for culturing Tetrahymena and bacterial cells and a variety of molecular biology, biochemistry, genomics/bioinformatics, and microscopy techniques. The techniques may include reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), PCR/qPCR, recombinant DNA construction/analysis, Western blots, ChIP-seq/RNA-seq, affinity purifications of protein complexes, mass spec proteomics, and widefield and confocal fluorescence microscopy.

Additionally, the assistant will provide general support to the lab as needed, which may include assisting in training new undergraduate and Masters’ students in routine techniques, tracking and receiving orders, maintaining reagent and cell strain inventories, maintaining cell stocks, preparing common reagents and consumables, updating the lab website, monitoring lab equipment and waste needs, and contributing to plastic/glassware cleaning and sterilization.

This is a project-employment position ending May 31, 2027, with potential of extension through 2028, pending funding.

• A Bachelor’s Degree in biology, biochemistry, or related field; OR Two years experience as a laboratory technician, research aide, or equivalent
• Hands‑on experience with one or more experimental techniques listed in the Position Responsibilities
• Strong organizational, written, and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to commit to a minimum of 2 years

• At least ~3‑months to 1 year full‑time research experience (or equivalent) in a biochemistry, molecular biology, or cellular biology laboratory.
• Experience with sterile technique, cell culturing, and relevant molecular biology, biochemistry, and/or fluorescence light microscopy techniques
• Experience with Excel, R Programming language, programming in FIJI/Image
  
  J, bioinformatics/sequence analysis, and/or biostatistics

All employees must comply with our Immunization policies, including Proof of Rubeola Measles Immunity within 60‑days of hire. Please reach out to HR if you need information regarding medical or religious exemption and applicable accommodations.