Research Associate III Traverso Lab

About the Traverso Lab
The Traverso Laboratory focuses on translational medicine at the intersection of engineering biology and clinical care. Our goal is to develop technologies that improve human health including advanced drug-delivery systems diagnostics biomaterials medical devices and therapeutic platforms.

The laboratory is led by Dr. Giovanni Traverso and includes a multidisciplinary team of engineers scientists clinicians research staff postdoctoral fellows and students working across the Broad Institute MIT Brigham and Womens Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

Position Overview

The Research Associate III Bioanalytics will support the development implementation and operation of bioanalytical workflows for the Traverso Laboratory with the position primarily based at the Broad Institute in Cambridge Massachusetts.

The individual will serve as a central technical resource for the measurement and characterization of drugs metabolites biomarkers formulation components and other analytes across a range of translational research programs. A significant portion of the role is expected to involve high-performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatographymass spectrometry including the development qualification execution and troubleshooting of analytical methods.

The position may also support additional analytical techniques including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and other quantitative biochemical or physicochemical assays depending on project requirements. The balance of responsibilities will evolve as new analytical workflows are established and the needs of the laboratorys research portfolio change.

In addition to technical bioanalytical responsibilities the Research Associate III will contribute to laboratory operations training safety procurement equipment stewardship and workflow organization. The individual will work closely with Aaron and other Broad-based team members while collaborating with researchers across the broader Traverso Laboratory.

There may also be limited near-term support for establishing the laboratorys new Brigham and Womens Hospital research space particularly with respect to equipment supplies safety systems and laboratory workflows to synergize with the collaborative projects between the Broad and BWH. The position itself however will remain Broad-centric.

Primary Responsibilities

Bioanalytical Method Development and Execution
Develop optimize qualify and execute analytical methods for the quantitative measurement of drugs metabolites biomarkers excipients and other analytes.
Operate and support high-performance liquid chromatography systems for assay development purity assessment stability studies release testing and related analytical applications.
Operate and support liquid chromatographymass spectrometry workflows for sensitive and selective quantification of analytes in biological and nonbiological matrices.
Assist with sample preparation extraction dilution filtration and processing methods for plasma serum tissue formulations release media and other sample types.
Develop and conduct ELISAs and other plate-based assays when required by project needs.
Evaluate analytical performance including sensitivity specificity linearity accuracy precision recovery matrix effects stability carryover and reproducibility.
Identify and troubleshoot technical issues involving instrumentation chromatography sample preparation assay performance and data quality.
Support analytical method transfer standardization and implementation across research projects and collaborating groups.
Maintain familiarity with emerging analytical technologies and recommend new instrumentation methods or workflows when appropriate.

Instrumentation and Data Management
Operate maintain calibrate and coordinate servicing of HPLC LC-MS plate-reader and related analytical equipment.
Establish preventive-maintenance schedules and maintain accurate instrument usage calibration and service records.
Develop standardized procedures for instrument operation data acquisition data processing and quality review.
Analyze experimental data using appropriate analytical and statistical methods.
Review chromatograms calibration curves quality-control samples assay outputs and related datasets for completeness and reliability.
Organize document archive and communicate analytical results in a clear and reproducible manner.
Contribute to the implementation of effective sample tracking data management and laboratory information workflows.

Research Program Support
Work closely with engineers chemists biologists clinicians postdoctoral fellows students and research staff to define analytical requirements for multidisciplinary projects.
Advise project teams on assay selection experimental design sample collection controls acceptance criteria and data interpretation.
Coordinate analytical activities across multiple research programs while balancing competing priorities instrument availability and project timelines.
Generate high-quality analytical data to support internal project decisions publications presentations regulatory activities sponsored research deliverables and grant proposals.
Summarize results and provide technical updates during laboratory and project meetings.
Contribute technical expertise to manuscripts reports protocols grant applications and presentations.
Coordinate with external laboratories core facilities vendors and collaborators when specialized analytical services are required.

Laboratory Operations and Stewardship
Support the organization and day-to-day operation of the Broad-based laboratory.
Assist with procurement of reagents analytical standards consumables columns equipment and other laboratory supplies.
Maintain appropriate inventory levels and help establish systems for ordering receiving storage and tracking of materials.
Support chemical biological and analytical safety practices and ensure that laboratory activities comply with institutional requirements.
Help establish and maintain standard operating procedures equipment documentation training records and laboratory policies.
Promote consistent efficient and reproducible laboratory workflows.
Assist with laboratory inspections equipment installation waste-management procedures and corrective actions when needed.
Provide limited support for the setup and organization of the new Brigham laboratory space including equipment supplies safety procedures and basic analytical workflows.

Training and Team Support
Train and onboard students postdoctoral fellows research staff and other laboratory members in analytical methods instrumentation sample preparation data processing and laboratory safety.
Provide hands-on technical guidance and troubleshooting support to researchers using shared analytical equipment.
Establish clear expectations for instrument use sample submission data review and laboratory documentation.
Promote a collaborative environment in which analytical resources are used responsibly and efficiently.
Serve as a knowledgeable and approachable technical resource for the broader research team.

Senior-Level Responsibilities
Lead the development and implementation of bioanalytical capabilities supporting multiple translational research programs.
Establish priorities and coordinate analytical workloads based on scientific importance project timelines and available resources.
Independently assess analytical challenges and propose practical scientifically rigorous solutions.
Develop scalable workflows that can accommodate increasing sample volumes and changing research needs.
Establish quality-control standards and acceptance criteria appropriate for research-stage bioanalytical studies.
Identify opportunities to improve laboratory efficiency data quality reproducibility and turnaround time.
Evaluate and recommend major equipment purchases service agreements software and technical resources.
Mentor junior staff and promote strong practices in experimental design documentation safety and data integrity.
Represent the bioanalytical function in project meetings and collaborations across the Broad Institute MIT Brigham and Womens Hospital Harvard Medical School and external partner organizations.

Required Qualifications
Bachelors or masters degree in analytical chemistry chemistry biochemistry pharmaceutical sciences chemical engineering biomedical engineering biology or a related discipline.
Several years of relevant laboratory experience in bioanalysis analytical chemistry pharmaceutical development biotechnology or a related field.
Demonstrated hands-on experience with HPLC including method development instrument operation data analysis and troubleshooting.
Experience with LC-MS or LC-MS/MS workflows for qualitative or quantitative analysis.
Experience preparing biological pharmaceutical or formulation samples for analytical testing.
Strong understanding of calibration standards quality-control samples standard curves analytical variability and quantitative data interpretation.
Experience documenting experimental procedures and preparing clear reproducible standard operating procedures.
Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects samples instruments and deadlines.
Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with multidisciplinary research teams.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Demonstrated commitment to laboratory safety data integrity and high-quality experimental work.

Preferred Qualifications
Experience developing or qualifying quantitative LC-MS/MS assays.
Experience with triple-quadrupole high-resolution or other mass spectrometry platforms.
Experience with ELISA development optimization and execution.
Experience measuring drug concentrations or biomarkers in plasma serum tissue or other biological matrices.
Experience with drug-delivery systems pharmacokinetic studies controlled-release formulations stability studies or pharmaceutical product development.
Familiarity with analytical method validation principles and relevant regulatory guidance.
Experience with chromatography and mass-spectrometry data-analysis software.
Familiarity with laboratory information management systems electronic laboratory notebooks or structured sample-tracking systems.
Experience supporting shared laboratory facilities or analytical core operations.
Experience with laboratory setup equipment installation vendor management and procurement.
Experience training and supervising students junior researchers or technical staff.
Familiarity with complementary analytical methods such as UV-visible spectroscopy fluorescence assays dissolution or release testing particle analysis or other physicochemical characterization techniques.

Candidate Attributes
The successful candidate will be self-motivated highly organized and willing to learn new tools and techniques. The candidate should demonstrate meticulous attention to detail sound scientific judgment and a strong commitment to producing accurate and reproducible results.
The role requires an individual who can work both independently and collaboratively communicate effectively with researchers from varied technical backgrounds and manage changing priorities in a fast-paced translational research environment. The candidate should be comfortable taking ownership of analytical workflows identifying operational needs training team members and helping ensure that the laboratory operates safely efficiently and reliably.

Primary Work Location
The position will be primarily based at the Broad Institute in Cambridge Massachusetts. The individual will interact regularly with collaborators and laboratory members based at MIT Brigham and Womens Hospital Harvard Medical School and affiliated institutions. Limited travel between local research sites may be required.