The Division of Immunology in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology is developing novel serology, capillary electrophoresis (CE), and mass spectrometry (MS) assays for the evaluation of antibodies as biomarkers of disease. This new Research Scientist 3 position will help guide development of these capabilities for use in clinical care and clinical trials, as well as in systems serology research. Assays in progress include (but are not limited to) those for: myeloma paraprotein glycosylation; rheumatoid arthritis and lupus autoantibody isotypes, allotype, and glycosylation characterization; and detection of viral and protozoan ocular infection.
WHAT WE OFFER:
- Salary: $5,427 - $11,051 per month.
- Vacation time and sick time off that accrues monthly, including 12 paid holidays.
- Excellent healthcare, dental, disability, and retirement plan options.
- State Employee Tuition Exemption Program covering up to 6 credits of qualifying coursework per quarter at the University of Washington or other participating colleges and universities.
- Eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program as a University of Washington employee.
- Fully subsidized public transit pass (U-PASS).
- And much more!
WHAT YOU'LL DO:
This position supports projects to:
- Improve and develop serologic assays for clinical use, including those for anti-Merkel Cell carcinoma and infectious ocular serology.
- Maintain existing liquid chromatography (LC) and CE-based antibody glycosylation assays for research-based testing.
- Develop high-throughput LC/MS-based pipelines for characterization of autoantibody isotype, allotype, and glycosylation for clinical and grant-funded research, with a focus on autoantibodies present in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.
- Modify these pipelines to address additional unmet challenges in clinical immunology, including other autoimmune diseases, plasma cell neoplasm diagnosis/prognosis/monitoring, and allergy.
These contributions will not only develop diagnostic tests for near-term clinical use, but also bring novel assays online that support grant funded research and biomarker development and maintain the UW Clinical Immunology Division at the forefront of clinical immunology testing.
- Improve and develop Luminex bead-based multiplexed serology assays to detect total and antigen-specific antibodies in serum and ocular fluid, including tracking and maintenance of supplies and reagents required for testing, curating validation and research samples & records, and collaborating with employees (e.g. medical laboratory scientists, research scientists) and students assigned to work in the Clinical Immunology lab on relevant assays. (20%)
- Oversee existing CE-based assays for analyzing plasma antibodies and paraproteins, including antibody isolation, glycan labeling, data acquisition, and basic data analysis using GeneMapper software. (20%)
- Expand departmental capabilities with respect to antibody characterization, including immunoaffinity enrichment methods, liquid chromatography method types (anion/cation exchange, size exclusion, hydrophilic interaction), and data processing. Provide ongoing feedback and updates to Dr. Treger and actively solicit input on overcoming roadblocks and impediments to success. (20%)
- Apply CE- and LC/MS-based testing to new diseases and sample types (e.g., CSF). Tasks include troubleshooting and optimization of sample preparation, chromatography, and mass spectrometry acquisition methods for new and existing methods, if needed. (10%)
- Develop and maintain quality control/assurance programs to ensure validity of results and consistency in instrument performance. Tasks include selection of quality control material, establishing protocols for use/reporting, and setting metrics for adequate instrument performance. (10%)
- Plan and implement clinical assay validations. Assist in the acquisition of clinical samples needed for this testing, and compile, summarize, and effectively communicate validation data. (10%)
- Less frequent activities (<=10%) :
- Learn and participate in instrument maintenance to keep assays running.
- Assist in completion of institutional review board (IRB) documentation as needed.
- Assist in completing standard operating procedures for new assays and identify needs for additional protocols, where appropriate. Update protocols when indicated, and document changes.
- Generate conclusions based on experimental data, author text and figures for publication and grant submission, and present research data at joined group meetings, departmental seminars, and regional & national conferences, as appropriate.
- Training, daily oversight, mentoring, scheduling and prioritization of tasks.
- Other duties as assigned.
Job Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Immunology, or related field AND four (4) years of relevant experience OR the equivalent combination of education/experience.
- An understanding of antibodies, immunoassays, liquid chromatography, and tandem mass spectrometry.
How to Apply:
Please click on the 'Apply for this job' button at the bottom of the job posting at the following link:
A regional resource for clinical laboratory services required for innovative patient care, research and educational programs, the Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology at the University of Washington combines the sophisticated testing and informatics capabilities of fully accredited laboratories with the resources of an academic institution in its delivery of clinical and anatomic pathology services. Recognized for excellence in clinical training, world-class research initiatives, and a commitment to community service, we serve labs and medical facilities both nationally and internationally. Job opportunities include, but are not limited to, staff Research Scientists, Medical Laboratory Scientists, Bioinformatics and Software Engineers, and other support roles.
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