Post-Doctoral Research Fellow

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is an independent, nonprofit organization providing adult cancer treatment and groundbreaking research focused on cancer and infectious diseases. Based in Seattle, Fred Hutch is the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Washington.

With a track record of global leadership in bone marrow transplantation, HIV/AIDS prevention, immunotherapy and COVID-19 vaccines, Fred Hutch has earned a reputation as one of the world's leading cancer, infectious disease and biomedical research centers. Fred Hutch operates eight clinical care sites that provide medical oncology, infusion, radiation, proton therapy and related services, and network affiliations with hospitals in five states. Together, our fully integrated research and clinical care teams seek to discover new cures to the world's deadliest diseases and make life beyond cancer a reality.

At Fred Hutch we value collaboration, compassion, determination, excellence, innovation, integrity and respect. Our mission is directly tied to the humanity, dignity and inherent value of each employee, patient, community member and supporter. Our commitment to learning across our differences and similarities make us stronger. We seek employees who bring different and innovative ways of seeing the world and solving problems.

The laboratory of Dr. Nasa Sinnott-Armstrong (https://www.nasalab.org/) has a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow position open in the Computational Biology Program of the Public Health Sciences Division. This postdoctoral researcher will focus on microbiology, genetics, environmental epidemiology, and the ethical, legal, and social implications of biomedical research. The position has a competitive salary and great benefits.

At the Sinnott-Armstrong Lab, we are interested in common human diseases and patient experience to pursue transformative advancements in healthcare. We are dedicated to understanding the map between genotype, environment, and phenotype at a population level. We aim to use the diagnosis and management of Lyme disease, chronic illnesses, and Valley fever as models to understand the future of public health.

We focus on critical areas of public health (ie. environmental health, biostatistics, epidemiology) and prioritize collaborative research projects across institutions, to redefine biomedical research into a multifaceted practice. We use Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS), database analysis of patient records in combination with biochemical and molecular approaches to understand the immune response and mechanisms of the Lyme disease-causing Borrelia burgdorferi. Our research aims to improve health outcomes and access by prioritizing patient experiences and fostering innovative, inclusive practices.

We are committed to advancing healthcare through collaboration, integrity, and a dedication to personal and professional growth. By reimagining conventional scientific practices, we strive to make meaningful impacts on public health and precision medicine. Our core values include a patient-centered approach, collaboration and innovation, personal and professional growth, and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. In our lab, we believe that research should be both impactful and enjoyable, and we are committed to creating a space where groundbreaking science meets a supportive and dynamic community. Together, we aim to redefine laboratory science and contribute to a more equitable and effective healthcare system.

We work in an interdisciplinary team environment with many local and external experts. Key projects available for this position include exciting collaborations around automated computer-in-the-loop analyses of host-pathogen interactions and immune response to early Lyme disease infection with Dr. Michal Tal and Dr. Doug Fowler and development of an at-home sampling framework for just-in-time collection of biospecimens from Lyme disease and other environmental pathogens.

Candidates with strong interest and/or expertise in any of these research areas are highly encouraged to apply:

Laboratory automation methods
• Infectious disease response

• This position is to support developing an automated computational/experimental system to identify gene-environment interactions, new therapeutics for Lyme disease and other infectious diseases, and media optimization parameters. The project is supported by the Sinnott-Armstrong lab's grant through Pew Biomedical Scholars, as well as other lab funds.
• Position would include overall cell culture and other wet lab experimentation in coordination with lab postbaccalaureate scholars; project planning; presentations and publications; as well as broad integration of the work with other ongoing and planned efforts in lab.
• Supporting other lab efforts in the design of molecular biology assays as needed.
• Position will also include, as desired, analysis of ethical and social implications of the work.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Applicants must have a PhD and/or MD (or equivalent) with training in one of these disciplines: Genetics, Molecular Biology, Infectious Disease, Pathology [or related discipline]
• Strong molecular biology background including but not limited to protein expression, qPCR, sample management, In-vitro bacterial culture, and BSL2 lab protocols
• Grant preparation - experience with writing grant proposals and developing study designs
• Applicants must have a demonstrated publication track record
• Work well in team environments, have strong communication/organization skills and is detail-oriented
• Highly motivated individual who think independently but also enjoy working in a dynamic, collaborative, multidisciplinary team
• Mentorship experience - this role will be expected to supervise 1 to 2 postbaccalaureate scholars

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience with high performance computing environments and cloud computing environments is a plus
• Strong programming experience (R, Python, Matlab, Java, C/C++, Perl or other languages for research)
• Experience with anaerobic cell culture
• Experience with analyzing microbiological sequencing data
• Experience designing and/or running bacterial metabolic models, especially genome-wide metabolic models

To apply, please submit your application with the following:

• Cover letter with a statement of research accomplishments and interests
• Curriculum vitae
• Two representative publications or preprints (if available)

The annual base salary range for this position is from $77,976 to $95,014, and pay offered will be based on experience and qualifications. This position may be eligible for relocation assistance.

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center offers employees a comprehensive benefits package designed to enhance health, well-being, and financial security. Benefits include medical/vision, dental, flexible spending accounts, life, disability, retirement, family life support, employee assistance program, onsite health clinic, tuition reimbursement, paid vacation (22 days per year), paid sick leave (up to 30 calendar days per occurrence of a qualifying reason), paid holidays (up to 13 days per year), and paid parental leave (up to 4 weeks).