Life Science Research Professional 1

Stanford University is seeking a Life Science Research Professional 1 to perform basic functions and activities involved in defined research projects, and independently conduct and analyze experiments.

The laboratory of Dr. Cong at Stanford University is seeking a Life Science Research Professional 1 (LSRP1) to join our lab in the Department of Pathology at Stanford University.

You will be working with an unparalleled leading-edge community of faculty and staff that are fundamentally changing the world of health care. You will have the opportunity to influence and drive change with your innovative ideas, the ability to make a difference and participate in human advancements. Our culture is fast-paced, energetic, and growing all the time.

We offer a variety of benefits beyond traditional medical, dental, retirement, and savings options:

• Events and program for children, sports camps, tuition options
• World-class intellectual stimulation through learning and development classes, workshops, and onsite conferences from leading-edge speakers and faculty
• Work/life and family-friendly policies and reimbursement
• Participation in Stanford’s social responsibility and sustainable programs for a better world
• A vibrant university culture that values the uniqueness of each individual

About the Department of Pathology:

The Department of Pathology is a founding department of the Stanford School of Medicine and one of the leading departments in the United States. Our preeminent faculty spans from emerging leaders to highly accomplished physicians and scientists, including a Nobel laureate and members of the National Academy. Our mission is to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and understanding of the human disease. This is done through discovery (research), education, and clinical care.

For more information about the department visit http://pathology.stanford.edu/

About the Lab

The overarching goal of the lab of Dr. Le Cong at Stanford (Dept. of Pathology and Dept. of Genetics, Wu-Tsai Neuroscience Institute and Stanford Bio-X Institute) is to develop cutting-edge gene-editing and single-cell technology to understand complex diseases, paving the way for precision gene therapies. We integrate machine learning (ML) and computational tools and apply these technologies to disease-relevant models. Some ongoing projects are: (1) using state-of-the-art CRISPR screens to understand cancer innate immunity and resistance to immunotherapy; (2) probing immune regulation in neuro-degeneration in the brain combining human genetics, gene-editing, and novel viral delivery; (3) developing single-cell lineage tracing tools to study epigenetic regulation in cancer and stem cell models. Our interdisciplinary team has pioneered gene-editing and epigenetic engineering tools, high-throughput CRISPR screening, and single-cell computational analysis approaches. To learn more about the investigators, please see our group’s website (www.conglab.com) and Dr. Cong’s profile (https://profiles.stanford.edu/186687).

Recent work include:

• New CRISPR and non-CRISPR gene-editing technology (Molecular Cell 2022, Nature Cell Biology 2022, Nucleic Acid Research 2021)
• Single-cell genomics, CRISPR screening (Cell Reports Methods 2023, ICML 2020, Cell 2017)
• Stem cell biology and cancer immunology (Trends in Genetics 2021, Cancer Discovery 2020)

We are a highly innovative team collaborating with other expert groups working on cancer and stem cell biology at Stanford University. This will be a unique opportunity to learn and grow in research, biotechnology development, and translational applications.

About the Job

We are looking for highly motivated individuals to join our laboratory to perform technology-driven research to understand and engineer innate immune cells (e.g. NK cells, macrophages) to tackle cancer and other related diseases. As innate immune cells are understudied compared to T-cell/B-cell adaptive immunity, there are major opportunities to innovate in this area to develop better gene and cell therapies for cancer. Specifically, we plan to leverage genome-wide CRISPR screening, single-cell analysis including spatial transcriptomics, and novel viral delivery systems to identify key genes and pathways that drive innate immunity in the tumor microenvironment. This could lead to next-generation immunotherapy for cancer patients.

A successful candidate will work independently and collaborate with lab members to engage in developing gene-editing and single-cell genomics tools, and apply them to the study of cancer immunology \. The candidate will execute bench (wet lab) experiments focusing on tissue culture, next-generation sequencing, and animal studies. The candidate will also be responsible for some basic lab operations and management work. There will also be opportunities for computational skills development, such as bioinformatics analysis. This position offers a rich opportunity to engage research at the frontier of biotech fields, aiming for the next stage of your career, either in academia or industry.

Duties include:

• Plan approaches to experiments in support of research projects in lab based on knowledge of scientific theory.
• Independently conduct experiments; maintain detailed records of experiments and outcomes.
• Apply the theories and methods of a life science discipline to interpret and perform analyses of experiment results; offer suggestions regarding modifications to procedures and protocols in collaboration with senior researcher.
• Review literature on an ongoing basis to remain current with new procedures and apply learnings to related research.
• Contribute to publication of findings as needed. Participate in the preparation of written documents, including procedures, presentations, and proposals.
• Help with general lab maintenance as needed; maintain lab stock, manage chemical inventory and safety records, and provide general lab support as needed
• Assist with orientation and training of new staff or students on lab procedures or techniques.Assist with orientation and training of new staff or students on lab procedures or techniques

*- Other duties may also be assigned