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. 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. Western offers additional sites in Anacortes, Bremerton, Everett, Port Angeles, and Poulsbo.

Western is recognized nationally for its successes, including 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 to make 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‑cell model eukaryote Tetrahymena thermophila.

Current projects focus on identifying the requirements and molecular processes by which the RNA interference pathway protects the genome from DNA damage. These projects require sterile technique for culturing Tetrahymena and bacterial cells and a variety of molecular biology, biochemistry, genomics/bioinformatics, and microscopy techniques. 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, including assisting in training new undergraduate and Master’s 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.

• 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 and written and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to commit to a minimum of 2 years

• At least ~3‑month 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.

All new employees must comply with the immunization policy and show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service before beginning work at WWU. A thorough background check will be conducted on all new hires, including a sexual misconduct background check.

$3,864 – $4,792/month depending on qualifications and experience

Benefits Overview for Classified Positions Bargaining Unit. This position is part of bargaining unit PT and is covered by the collective bargaining agreement with Public School Employees of WWU.