Shared Resources Specialist III — Electron Microscopy

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is an independent nonprofit organization providing adult cancer treatment and groundbreaking research focused on cancer and infectious diseases. Based in Seattle Fred Hutch is the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Washington.

With a track record of global leadership in bone marrow transplantation HIV/AIDS prevention immunotherapy and COVID-19 vaccines Fred Hutch has earned a reputation as one of the worlds leading cancer infectious disease and biomedical research centers. Fred Hutch operates eight clinical care sites that provide medical oncology infusion radiation proton therapy and related services and network affiliations with hospitals in five states. Together our fully integrated research and clinical care teams seek to discover new cures to the worlds deadliest diseases and make life beyond cancer a reality.

At Fred Hutch we value collaboration compassion determination excellence innovation integrity and respect. Our mission is directly tied to the humanity dignity and inherent value of each employee patient community member and supporter. Our commitment to learning across our differences and similarities make us stronger. We seek employees who bring different and innovative ways of seeing the world and solving problems.

The Shared Resources Specialist III Electron Microscopy is responsible for supporting the needs of researchers at Fred Hutch who are using the Electron Microscopy Shared Resource (EMSR). The Electron Microscopy Specialist III will assist researchers and other EMSR staff with consulting performing core services and operating all equipment and software contained in the EMSR with a focus on conventional EM applications. Additionally they will participate in the active development of new services and opportunities within the EMSR. This position assumes mastery of all Specialist II position requirements and duties.

At Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center all employees are expected to demonstrate a commitment to our values of collaboration compassion determination excellence innovation integrity and respect.

• Research Support:
  
  • Operate all electron microscopes in the facility (JEOL SEM TFS Talos TFS Glacios) including routine alignments and basic troubleshooting.
  • Prepare conventional SEM and TEM samples for users and image those samples.
  • Provide support for cryo-EM core services as needed.
  • Assists or leads in experimental design collaboratively with users.
• Research development:
  
  • Provides a high level of support for users by establishing and maintaining positive collaborative working relationships with faculty and external users.
  • Develop advanced protocols or creative solutions and deliver high quality data for conventional electron microscopy services.
  • Collaborate or lead in the development of new analytic tools for data produced within core.
• Equipment Oversight:
  
  • Is or through training becomes an expert on electron microscopes and EM software within the EMSR including JEOL SEM TFS Talos 120C (Velox Leginon) and TFS Glacios (SerialEM).
  • Serve as a resource for optimization of lab performance and efficiency.
  • Perform advanced equipment operation (alignments cryocycles etc.) and coordinates maintenance with instrument service engineers.
  • Participates in review and identification of new equipment needs.
• Training and Education:
  
  • Lead initiatives to develop SOPs training materials and guidelines for optimizing investigator use of conventional EM services within the EMSR.
  • Be expected to present on new or expanded technologies within the EMSR.
  • Conduct literature reviews to assist in determining most suitable methods to be used in research.
• Administrative tasks:
  
  • Assist director in performing billing and cost accounting.
  • Communicate with the researchers who use the core as well as fostering positive relationships with vendors and service engineers who support the EMSR.
  • Assist with data and computation management within the EMSR.

SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY:

• An Electron Microscopy Specialist III will communicate issues/needs of the facility to their manager(s) on an established schedule and will be expected to perform most work autonomously. This position has no responsibility for supervision of others but is expected to mentor junior staff. Resource Director and senior staff contribute to oversight and mentoring of this position. There will regular interfacing with resource users as well as vendors.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• PhD OR
• Masters degree and 3 years of relevant scientific experience OR
• Bachelors degree and 5 years of relevant scientific experience OR
• Associate Degree and 8 years of relevant scientific experience OR
• GED/ High School Diploma 10 years of relevant scientific experience
• Field of Education: Biology chemistry structural biology cell biology biochemistry electron microscopy engineering physics materials science or related field
  

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Demonstrated ability to learn and adapt to new systems and techniques;
• Ability to optimize the operation of electron microscopes and/or optimize EM sample preparation;
• Strong understanding of electron microscopy and electron microscopy applications (eg. theory sample prep data processing immunoEM etc.);
• Excellent communication interpersonal and organizational skills;
• Ability to work in a collaborative team-oriented core-lab environment and/or experience as an application engineer for EM;
• Experience with MS Office suite of applications (Outlook Word Excel Sharepoint Teams One Drive etc;
• Record keeping and database management (especially Linux-based systems);
• Capable of undertaking work with minimal supervision and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously;
• Can perform detailed research and review of technology through literature searches outreach to experts in field and other informational sources;
• Experience developing SOPs and providing lab-based training.
  

The annual base salary range for this position is from $80172 to $109470 and pay offered will be based on experience and qualifications.

Although Fred Hutch is not sponsoring most H-1B visas at this time candidates who already hold an H-1B sponsored by another organization and are currently in the U.S. may be eligible for this position.

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center offers employees a comprehensive benefits package designed to enhance health well-being and financial security. Benefits include medical/vision dental flexible spending accounts life disability retirement family life support employee assistance program onsite health clinic tuition reimbursement paid vacation (12-22 days per year) paid sick leave (12-25 days per year) paid holidays (13 days per year) and paid parental leave (up to 4 weeks).