Research Intern

Overview

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 world’s 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 world’s deadliest diseases and make life beyond cancer a reality.

At Fred Hutch we value collaboration, compassion, determination, excellence, innovation, integrity and respect. These values are grounded in and expressed through the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion. 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. Fred Hutch is in pursuit of becoming an anti-racist organization. We are committed to ensuring that all candidates hired share our commitment to diversity, anti-racism and inclusion.

The Blanco-Melo lab, within the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, studies the strategies that animal hosts have deployed throughout evolution to combat viral infections. In particular, the lab focuses on medically important human viruses, such as Influenza A virus and SARS-CoV-2, as well as ancient viral pathogens and their impact on the evolution of animal immune responses. Through the combination of molecular biology, genomics and bioinformatics, the Blanco-Melo lab seeks to characterize and exploit our highly evolved antiviral responses, in order to enable the design of broadly acting therapeutics against current and emerging viral threats.

The Blanco-Melo lab is seeking a highly motivated and curious undergraduate student to perform a three-month long internship focused on paleoproteomics approaches to understand the dynamics of ancient viral infections. The successful candidate will be responsible for analyzing and interpreting the outcome data of mass spectrometry analysis from archeological samples. Candidates must be enrolled in a genomics sciences program and have experience in computational biology, bioinformatics, and proteomics analyses. The successful candidate will work under the close guidance of the Principal Investigator and other lab members to accomplish the goals of the laboratory.

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.

Responsibilities

• Work independently under the guidance of the Principal Investigator, and in conjunction with research collaborators to accomplish the goals of the laboratory.
• Design and perform bioinformatic analyses and/or computational experiments to support investigative work. Perform and optimize documented data analysis pipelines. Maintain laboratory records and compile data on experiments and results.
• Use software and/or databases to gather, store, manipulate, and analyze research data.
• Identify and resolve technical issues and propose upgrades to current software.
• Interpret and report on analytical results. Perform statistical analyses of test results (including charts and graphics) and prepare written and/or oral reports on work performed.
• Conduct literature reviews to assist in determining most suitable methods to be used in research.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Enrollment in a genomics sciences undergraduate program is required.
• Completion of college-level coursework in biology, biostatistics, and bioinformatics is required.
• Previous experience with proteomics data and proficiency in mass spectrometry software (i.e., MaxQuant, PEAKS, Proteome Discoverer), is required.
• Proficiency with Unix.
• Proficiency in programing languages (e.g. Python, Perl, R).
• Previous or current laboratory experience is required.
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills are required.
• Motivation, adaptability, and ability to be a team player are essential.
• The candidate must be someone with great attention to details, well-organized, self-motivated, and able to efficiently manage time and experiments.

A statement describing your commitment and contributions toward greater diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism in your career or that will be made through your work at Fred Hutch is requested of all finalists.

The hourly pay range for this position is from $20.00 to $25.45 and pay offered will be based on experience and qualifications.  

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), paid parental leave (up to 4 weeks), and partially paid sabbatical leave (up to 6 months). 

Salary : $20 - $25