Research Associate / Senior Research Associate (Biomaterials)

Cancer Early Detection Advanced Research (CEDAR) center is a collaborative institution within the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute. The Knight Cancer Institute, known as one of the pioneers in personalized cancer medicine, is an international leader in research and cancer treatment. At CEDAR our mission is to detect and stop lethal cancers at the earliest stage because early detection saves lives. This is an ambitious goal, one that requires novelty, creativity, and innovation. We are composed of biologists, chemists, biomedical engineers, computationalists, and clinicians conducting groundbreaking translational cancer research to help people maintain a high quality of life and reduce cancer mortality, to create a global early detection community, and to have a positive impact on the Oregon economy.

CEDAR is committed to increasing the diversity of the campus community. We at CEDAR are dedicated to promoting inclusion and multiculturalism to build a successful organization by having outstanding researchers of diverse backgrounds work together on multiple projects. We encourage high-risk, high-reward research projects because defeating cancer requires unproven, out-of-the-box thinking. Our research is milestone driven to ensure that each project is fulfilling its stated goals.

Every Knight Cancer employee is expected to embody our guiding principles:

• We act BOLDLYBreakthroughs require pushing the boundaries of science, exploring new frontiers, and thinking differently
• We SUPPORT each otherRespect leads to trust, which leads to excellence
• We work as a CONNECTED team We must leverage our collective brain power to conquer cancer because no one individual can do it alone

A successful candidate will have the opportunity to work closely with Dr. Carolyn Schutt Ibsen and other CEDAR researchers to develop key technology platforms involving stimuli-responsive hydrogel scaffolds for 3D culture, drug delivery nanomaterials, and 3D bioprinting with applications in tissue engineering and modeling tumor progression.

We are currently hiring for an associate with expertise in Biomaterials to work in the following general areas:

• Stimuli-responsive hydrogel scaffolds for 3D cell culture developing new smart hydrogel-based materials for applications in tumor modeling and tissue engineering. This work will explore the use physical-stimuli responsive biomaterial scaffolds that enable spatiotemporal control of cue delivery (Gelmi and Schutt, 2021; Nele, Schutt, et al . 2020). Includes modification and functionalization of hydrogel polymer systems, cell culture within 3D engineered scaffolds and use of imaging and characterization techniques including confocal microscopy and immunofluorescence imaging. This position will utilize high-end instrumentation with access to the OHSU Advanced Light Microscopy Core and Multiscale Microscopy Core.
• Drug and gene delivery nanomaterial engineering fabrication and functionalization of nano and micro-particles, including external stimuli-responsive particles (Schutt et al. 2017, Schutt et al. 2015) for delivery of small molecule, protein or nucleic acid cargoes, and characterization via techniques including NTA, DLS/zetasizer, super-resolution microscopy, and electron microscopy via state-of-the-art instrumentation.
• 3D bioprinting of complex tissue constructs development of complex multi-typic bioprinted systems for applications in tumor modeling and tissue engineering. Includes development and modification of bioinks, printing parameters and techniques (e.g. FRESH bioprinting) and culture protocols as well as advanced imaging and characterization techniques

References:

1. Gelmi A and Schutt CE . Stimuli-Responsive Biomaterials: Scaffolds for Stem Cell Control. Advanced Healthcare Materials . 2021 Jan; 10(1):e2001125.
2. Nele V, Schutt CE , Wojciechowski JP, Kit-Anan W, Doutch JJ, Armstrong JPK, Stevens MM. Ultrasound-Triggered Enzymatic Gelation. Advanced Materials . 2020 Feb; 32(7):e1905914.
3. Schutt CE , Ibsen S, Zahavy E, Aryal S, Kuo S, Esener S, Berns M, Esener S. Drug Delivery Nanoparticles with Locally Tunable Toxicity Made Entirely from a Light-Activatable Prodrug of Doxorubicin. Pharmaceutical Research. 2017 Oct; 34(10):2025-2035.
4. Schutt CE , Ibsen SD, Benchimol MJ, Hsu MJ, Esener SC. Manipulating nanoscale features on the surface of dye-loaded microbubbles to increase their ultrasound-modulated fluorescence output. Small. 2014 Aug 27;10(16):3316-24.

OHSU Knight Cancer Institute Blog Highlight: https://blogs.ohsu.edu/cancertranslated/2021/01/28/engineering-models-of-early-cancer-qa-with-carolyn-schutt-ibsen/

Duties Include:

• Scientific Project Oversight: With input from Dr. Carolyn Schutt Ibsen and other CEDAR Scientists, help to develop and oversee laboratory research projects. Including identification of scientific problem, design of approach to address it, and identification, acquisition and management of resources to perform investigations. Foster and support teamwork. Provide training and guidance to postdoctoral fellows, clinical research fellows, graduate students and undergraduate students.
• Laboratory Research Project Management: Independently develop and manage research experiments, determining the most suitable methods to be used. Interpret and perform complex data analysis on experimental results and determine whether they are consistent with goals. Ensure that research team members maintain accurate and detailed records of all experimental procedures, data collections and analysis performed. Maintain a high level of professional expertise through familiarity with current scientific literature. As needed, develop innovative techniques and experimental systems to meet research program goals.
• Scientific Writing and Project Proposal Development: Prepare research findings for presentation at scientific meetings and conference and manuscripts for publication. Prepare research project proposals for internal review, prepare annual or bi-annual research progress summaries and presentations for CEDAR scientists and staff.
• Laboratory Organization and Compliance: Develop and implement procedures and systems to maximize the organization and efficiency within designated projects. Mentor and train lab members on lab practices and protocols. Ensure that staff is adequately trained to meet compliance for regulatory board reviews as required. Aid in the submission of specific protocols to the Institutional Review Board and other regulatory review boards.
• Collaborative Interactions: Develop, foster and maintain relationships with partners in academia and in the pharmaceutical/biotechnology industries. Oversee the advancement of specific sponsored research agreement (SRA) funded projects and ensure that external partners receive regular project updates. Participate in occasional teaching assignments.

• Doctoral degree in relevant field OR - Master's degree in relevant field and 5 years of relevant work experience OR Bachelors degree 9 years of relevant work experience
• Those with Masters degree with major courses in relevant field and 3 years of relevant experience OR - Bachelors degree with major courses in field of research and 5 years of relevant experience will be considered at the Research Associate level
• Specialty: Biomedical Engineering, Biomaterials, Engineering, Chemistry/Materials Chemistry or related field
• Candidates must demonstrate a High Quality publication record, patent record, or translational experience, which is defined as the type and level of outputs typically produced from PhD training
• Excellent communication, analytical and organizational skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team while being collaborative in resolving problems
• Knowledge of policy and regulations applicable to the laboratory, including but not limited to safety
• Technical proficiency, scientific creativity collaborative ability, and independent thinker
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with a high performing work group
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks at one time
• Demonstrated ability to learn new and innovative processes quickly
• Must possess energy and drive to coordinate multiple projects simultaneously
• Ability to use tact and diplomacy to maintain effective working relationships
• Ability to operate complex scientific equipment and develop and troubleshoot complex experimental protocols
• Demonstrated ability to build productive cross functional collaborations both internally and externally
• Ability to analyze short and long term project needs

• PhD and 2+ years of experience, MS and 5+ years of experience, or BS and 10+ years of experience
• Experience with cell culture
• Experience with data analysis

Apply online. Please be sure to upload a Cover Letter and Resume/CV.

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