Site: The General Hospital Corporation

Mass General Brigham relies on a wide range of professionals, including doctors, nurses, business people, tech experts, researchers, and systems analysts to advance our mission. As a not-for-profit, we support patient care, research, teaching, and community service, striving to provide exceptional care. We believe that high-performing teams drive groundbreaking medical discoveries and invite all applicants to join us and experience what it means to be part of Mass General Brigham.

Job Summary:

Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Clinical Microbiology Laboratory is seeking a Research Technologist to support the development, optimization, and execution of high complexity molecular assays in support of clinical diagnostic development and deployment, translational research, and public health pathogen genomic surveillance. The position will contribute to a collaborative program with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MADPH) and will work closely with research groups in the Division of Infectious Diseases at MGH. Core activities include developing and deploying cutting edge and novel approaches for: nucleic acid isolation from human clinical specimens; digital PCR and quantitative PCR assay development; next generation sequencing (NGS) library preparation and sequencing; target enrichment (hybrid capture) with NGS; and automation of the above technologies. The Research Technologist will work independently with appropriate supervision from Dr. Turbett and investigators in the Division of Infectious Diseases, with an emphasis on rigorous documentation, contamination control, quality control (QC), and troubleshooting. All testing performed in this role is for research and/or surveillance purposes (non-clinical reporting); clinical technician certification is not required.

Qualifications:

• Perform and optimize nucleic acid extraction workflows (manual and/or automated) for a variety of human clinical specimen types; implement extraction controls and contamination prevention practices.
• Develop, optimize, and troubleshoot high-complexity molecular assays including RT-qPCR, qPCR, and digital PCR. Prepare and interpret run level QC metrics and troubleshoot pre-analytical and analytical issues.
• Prepare NGS libraries (e.g., metagenomic or amplicon approaches) and perform target enrichment (hybrid capture) workflows. Quantify and QC libraries, sequence using Illumina and Oxford Nanopore approached, and perform first level analysis, QC, and interpretation of sequencing results.
• Operate, monitor, and perform routine maintenance for sequencing instruments and supporting laboratory equipment. Document instrument performance and coordinate service as needed.
• Plan and execute assay development and validation studies and summarize results in organized validation reports.
• Maintain accurate documentation (lab notebook, SOPs, batch records, QC logs, incident reporting, and sample chain of custody) and follow institutional biosafety and data security requirements.
• Support specimen biorepository operations including specimen receipt, processing/aliquoting, labeling, storage, inventory management, and sample and data tracking in laboratory information management systems.
• Coordinate daily laboratory operations including reagent preparation, inventory management, ordering, and tracking of supplies.
• Perform primary data review and interpretation for molecular and sequencing outputs; collaborate with bioinformatics partners and utilize platforms such as Terra and standard analytical tools for QC summaries and reporting.
• Communicate effectively with supervisors and collaborators regarding assay status, issues, and timelines. Contribute to method write ups, protocols, abstracts/manuscripts, federal assay approval submissions, and internal training as needed.

EducationA bachelor’s degree in a biological, biomedical, biotechnology, or other relevant scientific field is required. A master’s degree in a relevant field is preferred.

Can this role accept experience in lieu of a degree?
No

Experience:

A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience is required (or a minimum of 2 years for candidates with a master’s degree). The most qualified candidate will demonstrate previous experience in all the following:

• Nucleic acid isolation from human clinical specimens, including implementation of appropriate extraction controls and contamination prevention practices.
• High complexity molecular assay development, including qPCR and dPCR methods.
• NGS library preparation and sequencing workflows, including library QC and troubleshooting.
• Target enrichment workflows.
• Novel assay development and validation.
• Experience working in or adjacent to a clinical microbiology, molecular diagnostics, or similarly regulated laboratory environment with strong documentation expectations.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

The successful candidate will demonstrate the following skills and competencies:

• Demonstrated proficiency with high-complexity molecular laboratory techniques (nucleic acid extraction, RT-qPCR/qPCR, digital PCR, and NGS library preparation with target enrichment) and a strong track record of troubleshooting and optimization.
• Direct experience with target enrichment workflows (hybrid capture/target capture) and best practices for RNA and DNA handling, contamination prevention, and appropriate experimental design.
• Ability to generate, review, and interpret QC metrics, maintain organized records, and follow SOPs and biosafety requirements in a clinical and research laboratory setting.
• Ability to work independently on multiple concurrent assay development efforts or projects while meeting timelines. Strong organizational skills and attention to detail are required.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to document methods clearly, summarize results, and communicate technical issues to interdisciplinary teams.
• Comfort with basic data analysis and visualization using common tools (e.g., Excel, Graph Pad Prism) and familiarity with cloud based sequencing data analysis environments (e.g., Terra) is required.

Additional Job Details (if applicable)

Physical Requirements

• Standing Frequently (34-66%)
• Walking Frequently (34-66%)
• Sitting Occasionally (3-33%)
• Lifting Frequently (34-66%) 35lbs+ (w/assisted device)
• Carrying Frequently (34-66%) 20lbs - 35lbs
• Pushing Occasionally (3-33%)
• Pulling Occasionally (3-33%)
• Climbing Rarely (Less than 2%)
• Balancing Frequently (34-66%)
• Stooping Occasionally (3-33%)
• Kneeling Occasionally (3-33%)
• Crouching Occasionally (3-33%)
• Crawling Rarely (Less than 2%)
• Reaching Frequently (34-66%)
• Gross Manipulation (Handling) Frequently (34-66%)
• Fine Manipulation (Fingering) Frequently (34-66%)
• Feeling Constantly (67-100%)
• Foot Use Rarely (Less than 2%)
• Vision
• Far Constantly (67-100%)
• Vision
• Near Constantly (67-100%)
• Talking Constantly (67-100%)
• Hearing Constantly (67-100%)

Remote Type

Onsite

Work Location

90 Blossom Street

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

40

Employee Type

Regular

Work Shift

Day (United States of America)

Pay Range

$50,502.40 - $82,014.40/Annual

Grade

6

At Mass General Brigham, we believe in recognizing and rewarding the unique value each team member brings to our organization. Our approach to determining base pay is comprehensive, and any offer extended will take into account your skills, relevant experience if applicable, education, certifications and other essential factors. The base pay information provided offers an estimate based on the minimum job qualifications; however, it does not encompass all elements contributing to your total compensation package. In addition to competitive base pay, we offer comprehensive benefits, career advancement opportunities, differentials, premiums and bonuses as applicable and recognition programs designed to celebrate your contributions and support your professional growth. We invite you to apply, and our Talent Acquisition team will provide an overview of your potential compensation and benefits package.

EEO Statement:

1200 The General Hospital Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. To ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Veteran’s Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact Human Resources at (857)-282-7642.

Mass General Brigham Competency Framework

At Mass General Brigham, our competency framework defines what effective leadership “looks like” by specifying which behaviors are most critical for successful performance at each job level. The framework is comprised of ten competencies (half People-Focused, half Performance-Focused) and are defined by observable and measurable skills and behaviors that contribute to workplace effectiveness and career success. These competencies are used to evaluate performance, make hiring decisions, identify development needs, mobilize employees across our system, and establish a strong talent pipeline.