Research Technician - Watson Lab

Primary Work Address: 373 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA, 01605

Current HHMI Employees, click here to apply via your Workday account.

About the Watson Lab

The Watson Lab at UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester, MA leads pioneering research in cancer systems-genomics by constructing tumor-like genomes in the lab to investigate chromosomal aberrations such as amplifications and deletions, as well as structural variants. Leveraging the principles of forward genetics and in vitro evolution, the lab generates aneuploid mutants from normal diploid epithelial cells to understand the origins and functions of recurrent chromosomal alterations found in human cancers. The Watson lab utilizes cell type of origin models for various cancer types to understand the tissue-specify of chromosomal alteration patterns in cancer.

By comparing these engineered genomes with genomic and transcriptomic data from human tumors, the Watson Lab seeks to uncover the functional roles-including phenotypic effects-of frequent chromosomal abnormalities, such as gains of 1q and 8q, thereby advancing our understanding of tumor biology and potential therapeutic targets.

🔗 Learn more about our work: Watson Lab website

About the Role

We are seeking a motivated Research Technician to play a key role in supporting the daily operations of the Watson Lab. This position involves assisting with general lab management tasks, including maintaining cell lines and supporting experiments for a group of graduate students and postdocs.

The role will provide hands-on experience in tissue culture, cloning, sequencing-based applications, genomics, and functional genetics (i.e. CRISPR). This position is critical to ensuring smooth lab operations and will directly support both ongoing projects and the training environment of the lab.

• Opportunities to travel and present at conferences, when applicable.
• The chance to present projects at internal lab and departmental seminar series.
• Mentorship and training from Dr. Watson and senior lab members.
• Experience leading projects as well as supporting other ongoing studies in the lab.
• Opportunities for manuscript authorship.
• Professional development support, including guidance for pursuing graduate or medical school if interested.
• The opportunity to collaborate with peers and colleagues across campus in a highly interactive and discovery-driven environment.

• Support day-to-day lab operations, including ordering supplies, maintaining cell stocks, and organizing shared resources.
• Conduct and maintain tissue culture experiments, ensuring cell lines are properly managed and documented.
• Perform DNA sequencing, RNA sequencing, and basic cloning techniques, contributing to genomics and genetics research.
• Assist with data collection and organization to support both independent and collaborative projects.
• Work closely with graduate students and postdocs, providing technical and organizational support.
• Contribute to internal meetings, presentations, and collaborative discussions, fostering a strong team environment.
• Help maintain compliance with lab safety and research protocols.

• A Bachelor's degree in Biology, Molecular Biology, Genetics, or a related field.
• 0-2 years of relevant lab experience.
• Hands-on experience with basic tissue culture (required).
• Familiarity with DNA sequencing, RNA sequencing, and/or single-cell sequencing methodologies is preferred but not required.
• Additional computational/data analysis experience is a plus.
• Background or interest in tumor and cancer-related research is preferred.
• Exposure to microbiology and basic cloning techniques is a plus but not required.

• A highly collaborative approach to working with others.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Strong organizational skills and a socially engaged, team-oriented mindset.