(Hybrid) Research Assistant - Department of Medical Oncology

The Department of Medical Oncology at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a (Hybrid) Research Assistant position.

About the Opportunity

The WVU Department of Medical Oncology is currently accepting applications for a Research Assistant in the laboratory of Dr. Ashkan Emadi. The laboratory investigates mechanisms of cancer development, survival and resistance by focusing on translational cancer pharmacology specifically exploiting metabolic vulnerabilities and DNA repair pathways in hematologic malignancies and solid tumors through drug development and preclinical modeling.

The laboratory utilizes a combination of in vitro techniques and in vivo animal models to identify and validate novel therapeutic approaches for diseases such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), lung cancers and brain tumors. Of particular interest if interdisciplinary research that bridge cancer biology, experimental therapeutics, and animal modeling to test pharmacologic agents in highly clinically relevant systems.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year (employee leave)
• 18 sick days per year (for when you're ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family's, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefit
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ's.
• Wellness programs

What You'll Do

In Vitro Techniques:

• Cell Culture and Maintenance
  
  
  
  • Aseptic technique for culturing human and murine cancer cell lines (e.g., AML, PDAC, ALL, NSCLC)
  • Mycoplasma testing and cell line authentication
  • Maintenance of adherent and suspension cell lines
  • Cryopreservation and revival of cells
  
  
  
  
• Drug Treatment and Viability Assays
  
  
  
  • Dose-response and time-course experiments
  • WST-1, MTT, or CellTiter-Glo assays for cell viability
  • AlamarBlue for primary cell metabolic activity
  • Trypan blue exclusion and manual cell counting
  • Clonogenic survival assays
  
  
  
  
• Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis Assays
  
  
  
  • BrdU or EdU incorporation assays
  • Annexin V / PI staining and flow cytometry for apoptosis
  • Caspase-3/7 activity assays
  • Cell cycle analysis using propidium iodide (PI) or DAPI staining
  
  
  
  
• Protein Expression and Analysis
  
  
  
  • Western blotting (e.g., for MCL-1, BCL-2, PARP, p-4EBP1, eIF4E)
  • Protein quantification (Bradford, BCA assays)
  • Immunoprecipitation and Co-IP
  • Puromycin-based SUnSET assay for protein synthesis
  
  
  
  
• Nucleic Acid Analysis
  
  
  
  • RNA extraction (TRIzol, column-based)
  • cDNA synthesis and quantitative RT-PCR (qPCR)
  • Genomic DNA extraction
  • PCR and agarose gel electrophoresis
  • CRISPR knockout validation (e.g., PHGDH)
  
  
  
  
• Metabolic and Biochemical Assays
  
  
  
  • Glutamine, glutamate, and serine quantification (e.g., GSH-Glo, DL-serine assays)
  • Glutathione (GSH) and ROS detection assays
  • Amino acid depletion/repletion studies
  • Reporter assays (e.g., luciferase for translation)
  
  
  
  
• Microscopy and Imaging
  
  
  
  • Immunofluorescence staining for protein localization
  • DAPI/PI nuclear staining
  • Brightfield, fluorescence, and confocal microscopy
  
  
  
  
• Flow Cytometry (FACS)
  
  
  
  • Multicolor staining for surface and intracellular marker
  • Live/dead discrimination
  • Cell cycle and apoptosis analysis
  
  
  
  
• Transfection and Genetic Manipulation
  
  
  
  • Chemical (e.g., Lipofectamine), electroporation, or viral transduction
  • Use of shRNA, siRNA, CRISPR/Cas9 tools
  • Stable cell line generation (e.g., luciferase-labeled lines)
  
  
  
  
• High-Throughput and Automation Tools
  
  
  
  • Multiwell plate assays
  • Plate reader operations (fluorescence, luminescence, absorbance)
  • Robotic pipetting systems
  
  
  
  

In Vivo Techniques

• Animal Handling & Regulatory Compliance
  
  
  
  • Proficient handling of immunocompetent (e.g., C57BL/6, BALB/c, CD1) and immunocompromised mice (e.g., NSG, NOD/SCID, NRG
  • Knowledge of IACUC protocols, humane endpoints, and animal welfare policies
  • Certification or training in animal handling, restraint, and euthanasia (CO, cervical dislocation
  • Ability to maintain accurate animal records, logs, and compliance documentation
  
  
  
  
• Dosing & Compound Administration
  
  
  
  • Intravenous (IV) injection via tail vein
  • Intraperitoneal (IP) injection
  • Subcutaneous (SC) injection
  • Oral gavage (PO) using flexible gavage needles
  • Intratumoral (IT) injection (for direct drug delivery)
  • Anesthesia administration (isoflurane or injectable) and monitoring
  
  
  
  
• Tumor Implantation & Model Generation
  
  
  
  • Hematologic Malignancies
    * Tail vein injection of AML/ALL cell lines or primary cells in NSG/NRG mice
    * Engraftment monitoring via blood sampling or bioluminescence
  • Solid Tumors
    * Subcutaneous tumor implantation (e.g., PDAC, breast, colon cancer cell lines)
    * Orthotopic injection (e.g., pancreatic tail injection in KPC syngeneic models)
    * Intracranial, intrabone, or intrapleural injections (as needed for specific models)
    * Generation of PDX (patient-derived xenografts) and maintenance of PDX colonies
  
  
  
  
• Tumor Monitoring & Clinical Assessment
  
  
  
  • Tumor volume measurement using digital caliper
  • Bioluminescent imaging for luciferase-labeled xenograft
  • Observation of physical symptoms, weight loss, grooming, activity level
  • Weekly body weight measurement and wellness scoring
  
  
  
  
• Biological Sampling
  
  
  
  • Retro-orbital, submandibular, or tail vein blood collection
  • Terminal cardiac puncture for whole blood
  • Serum/plasma separation and storage
  • Tissue harvesting: spleen, liver, tumor, bone marrow, lymph node
  • Bone marrow aspiration and flushing from femurs/tibia
  • Tissue fixation for downstream IHC, IF, or Western blotting
  
  
  
  
• Necropsy, Tissue Processing & Surgery
  
  
  
  • Aseptic technique during minor survival surgery (e.g., orthotopic injection, tumor implant)
  • Complete necropsy and documentation of gross findings
  • Dissection of solid tumors for weight and histologic evaluation
  • Snap-freezing or RNA-later preservation of tissue samples
  • Familiarity with tumor burden scoring (macroscopic and histologic)
  
  
  
  
• Safety & Facility Operations
  
  
  
  • Use of biosafety cabinets for handling immunocompromised animal
  • Preparation and decontamination of animal rooms (BSL-2 or ABSL-2
  • Proper disposal of animal waste and biohazardous material
  • Handling of hazardous or experimental drugs (e.g., chemotherapy)
  
  
  
  
• Data Collection, Record-Keeping, and Team Communication
  
  
  
  • Maintain detailed laboratory notebooks and digital records (e.g., dosing logs, tumor size sheets
  • Record animal weights, survival times, and adverse event
  • Coordinate with veterinarians, core facilities, and collaborators
  • Assist in preparation of figures, protocols, and IACUC amendments
  
  
  
  
• The selected candidate will have the opportunity to:
  
  
  
  • Attend WVU-based and national training courses in in vivo animal modeling and experimental therapeutic
  • Collaborate with major cancer centers for technical exchange
  • Contribute to manuscript writing, data presentation at national meetings, and preparation of NIH/industry-sponsor
  
  
  
  

Pay Grade: 17

• Master's degree in biological or health sciences-related field
• A minimum of 0-6 months of post-graduate research experience in the following:
  
  
  
  • Demonstrated ability to perform basic molecular science assays including but not limited to western blot, ELISA, PCR, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescent staining, RNA sequencing, flow cytometry.
  • Independently performing experimental protocols involving culturing bacteria to perform genetic manipulation and assisting others in testing bacterial strains using in vitro and in vivo models.
  • Experience with sterile techniques, including tissue culture
  • Experience with gene cloning, and protein expression and purification
  • Experience with handling of research animals, primarily mice
  
  
  
  
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated peer reviewed publications in the field of cancer and/or cancer immunotherapy
• Demonstrated ability to mentor trainees in laboratory environment
• Demonstrated ability to move a research project forward with large amount of autonomy and independence
• Highly motivated, hardworking researcher that can work independently with minimal supervision
• Read and interpret verbal and written directions
• Ability to obtain rigorous and accurate scientific data with appropriate controls
• Knowledge of laboratory environment, appropriate procedures, and general laboratory protocol
• Knowledge and adherence to laboratory safety protocols, ethical standards, and regulatory requirements
• Skilled in handling of research animals for procedures, including mouse models of cancer
• Strong organizational and time management skill
• Strong communication skills with ability to present scientific data
• Ability to perform independent data analysis and basic statistical analysis
• Ability to get along well with others in a collaborative group setting
• Management and leadership skills providing capacity for training, supervision and mentorship of students
• Adept and proficient in scientific writing of high-quality manuscripts, grants, and research protocols

• This position may require Medical Monitoring, including periodic health monitoring and/or training.

West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.

From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures

At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values - service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation - unite us as Mountaineers

Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu

West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or Veteran status.